Bitbond Receives BaFin’s Approval for Tokenized Bonds

Bitbond announced that it has received regulatory approval from BaFin to issue Security Token Security Token Security tokens are cryptocurrency tokens that represent a contract into an underlying security, which could include stocks, funds, bonds, and real estate investment trusts (REITs.) Security tokens can also be used as a method of fundraising. A security token offering (STO) is similar in nature to an initial public offering (IPO), however involves tokenized digital securities, known as security tokens. These are then sold in cryptocurrency exchanges. Tokens can be used to trade real financial assets such as equities and fixed income, and use a blockchain virtual ledger system to store and validate token transactions.In a regulatory sense, tokens are classified as securities and are more susceptible to oversight. This makes them more secure relative to other alternatives such as initial coin offerings (ICOs), which have resulted in countless cases of fraud.Many STO can also be held on regulated stock exchanges that can be characterized as tokenized IPO. These offerings have benefits, including the potential to deliver significant efficiencies and cost savings.Where Are STOs Legal?STOs are regulated and legalized in several countries where ICOs have not. This makes them the preferred method of fundraising and are fully regulated in following jurisdictions: European Union, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Israel, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong.In particular, STOs are placed under securities legislation. Even in the aforementioned jurisdictions however, security tokens still require a connection to a registered company with real assets being sold.There is some degree of controversy surrounding security tokens, mainly as a means of their classification. There exists a debate surrounding security tokens as to their legal differentiation of whether they can be characterized as a utility instead of a security. Traditionally, a passive financial return is expected from the investment, thus it is classified as a security. Security tokens are cryptocurrency tokens that represent a contract into an underlying security, which could include stocks, funds, bonds, and real estate investment trusts (REITs.) Security tokens can also be used as a method of fundraising. A security token offering (STO) is similar in nature to an initial public offering (IPO), however involves tokenized digital securities, known as security tokens. These are then sold in cryptocurrency exchanges. Tokens can be used to trade real financial assets such as equities and fixed income, and use a blockchain virtual ledger system to store and validate token transactions.In a regulatory sense, tokens are classified as securities and are more susceptible to oversight. This makes them more secure relative to other alternatives such as initial coin offerings (ICOs), which have resulted in countless cases of fraud.Many STO can also be held on regulated stock exchanges that can be characterized as tokenized IPO. These offerings have benefits, including the potential to deliver significant efficiencies and cost savings.Where Are STOs Legal?STOs are regulated and legalized in several countries where ICOs have not. This makes them the preferred method of fundraising and are fully regulated in following jurisdictions: European Union, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Israel, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong.In particular, STOs are placed under securities legislation. Even in the aforementioned jurisdictions however, security tokens still require a connection to a registered company with real assets being sold.There is some degree of controversy surrounding security tokens, mainly as a means of their classification. There exists a debate surrounding security tokens as to their legal differentiation of whether they can be characterized as a utility instead of a security. Traditionally, a passive financial return is expected from the investment, thus it is classified as a security. Read this Term offering (STO).

The German regulator approved Bitbond’s plea under the German Banking Act for its Blockchain Blockchain Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned.) In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamper with. The Evolution of BlockchainBlockchain was originally invented by an individual or group of people under the name of Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. The purpose of blockchain was originally to serve as the public transaction ledger of Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency.In particular, bundles of transaction data, called “blocks”, are added to the ledger in a chronological fashion, forming a “chain.” These blocks include things like date, time, dollar amount, and (in some cases) the public addresses of the sender and the receiver.The computers responsible for upholding a blockchain network are called “nodes.” These nodes carry out the duties necessary to confirm the transactions and add them to the ledger. In exchange for their work, the nodes receive rewards in the form of crypto tokens.By storing data via a peer-to-peer network (P2P), blockchain controls for a wide range of risks that are traditionally inherent with data being held centrally.Of note, P2P blockchain networks lack centralized points of vulnerability. Consequently, hackers cannot exploit these networks via normalized means nor does the network possess a central failure point.In order to hack or alter a blockchain’s ledger, more than half of the nodes must be compromised. Looking ahead, blockchain technology is an area of extensive research across multiple industries, including financial services and payments, among others. Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned.) In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamper with. The Evolution of BlockchainBlockchain was originally invented by an individual or group of people under the name of Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. The purpose of blockchain was originally to serve as the public transaction ledger of Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency.In particular, bundles of transaction data, called “blocks”, are added to the ledger in a chronological fashion, forming a “chain.” These blocks include things like date, time, dollar amount, and (in some cases) the public addresses of the sender and the receiver.The computers responsible for upholding a blockchain network are called “nodes.” These nodes carry out the duties necessary to confirm the transactions and add them to the ledger. In exchange for their work, the nodes receive rewards in the form of crypto tokens.By storing data via a peer-to-peer network (P2P), blockchain controls for a wide range of risks that are traditionally inherent with data being held centrally.Of note, P2P blockchain networks lack centralized points of vulnerability. Consequently, hackers cannot exploit these networks via normalized means nor does the network possess a central failure point.In order to hack or alter a blockchain’s ledger, more than half of the nodes must be compromised. Looking ahead, blockchain technology is an area of extensive research across multiple industries, including financial services and payments, among others. Read this Term-based lending business. The peer-to-peer lender has become the first such blockchain-based financial services to be supervised by BaFin.

Commenting on the development, Bitbond founder and CEO Radoslav Albrecht told CryptoNinja: “We are the first regulated blockchain company to set new standards. It is important for us to show investors who trust our platform that we act according to transparent rules.”

Launched in 2013, the Berlin-based company lends capital to small businesses via its peer-to-peer network. Its primary targets are e-commerce type businesses operating on Amazon and eBay. The firm claims that it hosts more than 50,000 investors and funded over 3,200 loans worth more than $15 million. The maximum loan a party can avail on the platform is worth £22,000 (€25,000).

According to Bitbond’s prediction, the lender will touch €1 billion in annual lending volume by 2022.

Security Token Offering

The blockchain-based lending platform is using Stellar’s blockchain to issue the security tokens.

As per the prospectus of the offering, “token holders will receive 1% interest on their invested amount every quarter (4% per year). Additionally, token holders receive a variable coupon paid out once per year. Both the quarterly and the annual coupons continue for 10 years, at which point the token reaches its maturity and is bought back at its face value of €1 per token.”

Albrecht has high hopes for the upcoming token offering of the firm. In a recent interview with local new platform Handelsblatt, he said that the minimum raise for the company is between €3 to €5 million, but the STO can boost the figures up to €100 million.

According to reports, BaFin has three more STOs approvals pending in its pipeline.

The German company is also determined for global expansion as last December; it partnered with payment provider Stripe to increase support to e-commerce businesses.