Australian Regulators Recognise the Positive Potential of ICOs

Thursday, 28/09/2017 | 08:40 GMT by Avi Mizrahi
  • "We want to ensure innovative firms understand the regulatory framework they may be operating under."
Australian Regulators Recognise the Positive Potential of ICOs
REUTERS

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) today released a guidance paper to help issuers of initial coin offerings (ICOs) consider their legal Obligations in the country. While warning investors to look out for possible scams, ASIC has taken a much more constructive approach than other regulators such as the US SEC and especially the central bank of China.

Learn how to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum safely with our simple guide!

ASIC says that it recognises that ICOs have the potential to make an important contribution to the options available to businesses regarding fundraising and investment options.

The commission explains that an ICO must be conducted in a manner that promotes investor trust and confidence, and complies with the relevant laws. Which regulations apply to an ICO will depend on the type of ICO offering and what rights are attached to the coins from the ICO itself, and the underlying coins or tokens used in the ICO.

Finance Magnates recently interviewed Dave Martin, the MD of Australian Blockchain -powered peer-to-peer renewable marketplace Power Ledger, to talk about ASIC's approach.

ASIC Commissioner John Price said today: "We want to ensure innovative firms understand the regulatory framework they may be operating under and ensure they meet any obligations they may have when raising funds in Australia."

Commissioner Price added the obligatory warning: "ICOs are highly speculative investments, are mostly unregulated and the chance of losing your investment is high. Consumers should understand the risks involved, including the potential for these products to be scams, before investing."

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) today released a guidance paper to help issuers of initial coin offerings (ICOs) consider their legal Obligations in the country. While warning investors to look out for possible scams, ASIC has taken a much more constructive approach than other regulators such as the US SEC and especially the central bank of China.

Learn how to buy Bitcoin and Ethereum safely with our simple guide!

ASIC says that it recognises that ICOs have the potential to make an important contribution to the options available to businesses regarding fundraising and investment options.

The commission explains that an ICO must be conducted in a manner that promotes investor trust and confidence, and complies with the relevant laws. Which regulations apply to an ICO will depend on the type of ICO offering and what rights are attached to the coins from the ICO itself, and the underlying coins or tokens used in the ICO.

Finance Magnates recently interviewed Dave Martin, the MD of Australian Blockchain -powered peer-to-peer renewable marketplace Power Ledger, to talk about ASIC's approach.

ASIC Commissioner John Price said today: "We want to ensure innovative firms understand the regulatory framework they may be operating under and ensure they meet any obligations they may have when raising funds in Australia."

Commissioner Price added the obligatory warning: "ICOs are highly speculative investments, are mostly unregulated and the chance of losing your investment is high. Consumers should understand the risks involved, including the potential for these products to be scams, before investing."

About the Author: Avi Mizrahi
Avi Mizrahi
  • 2727 Articles
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About the Author: Avi Mizrahi
Azi Mizrahi, expert in fintech trends and global markets, enriches readers with deep insights.
  • 2727 Articles
  • 10 Followers

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