Security Token Offering (STO) is frequently called the future of token evolution but what factors can lead to STO mass adoption in the coming days, let’s find out.
August 27, 2019 | AtoZ Markets - STO stands for Security Token Offering which has a similar process of an ICO (Initial Coin Offering) where an investor exchanges money for coins or tokens as investments. STO’s are fungible, negotiable financial instruments with money value which is quite like the shares we trade in stock exchanges.
STO’s usually distributes tokens that reside under the status of securities that can only be bought from regular token exchanges. Rather than being linked with coins or specific projects, STO’s are linked with Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate Investments Trusts or other kinds of funds.
History of STO
The first STO was launched by Blockchain Capital (BCAP) on April 10, 2017 which raised 10 million of funds in a single day. After that in September 2017, Science Blockchain (SCI) completed the second security token sale. In 2018, several companies like Spice VC, Quadrant Biosciences, Open Finance Network, Aspen Coin and The Hub at Columbia sold several ownerships of the STO’s.
In 2019, after Sharepost’s ATS custody, tZERO opened a dedicated securities token exchange. The overall journey STO since 2017 are showed below graphically.
What is the difference between STO and ICO?
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STO |
ICO |
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Regulated and Credible |
No Regulatory Framework |
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Based on Real and Registered Assets |
Based on Promises and Speculation 
|
|
Protection against Fraud but requires significant legal paperwork |
Investors hold all the risk and Legally dubious |
|
Investors have fractional ownership and rights such as voting and dividends of the concern |
Investors do not have any rights or ownership of the concern |
|
Transparent fundraising solutions |
Complete anonymity for investors via Blockchain |
STOs and ICOs are having significant differences pulled the things apart despite having the same technology running behind. After the ICO bubble of 2017 bursting in 2018, which resulted in the demolition of thousands of ICOs and losing millions of dollars, currently having proper information of good-rated ICOs and STOs to avoid such calamity is invaluable.
Why STO mass adoption can be the next big thing?
There are certain benefits of having STO’s as investments which ensures security and reliability of the investments, unlike any others. The benefits of holding STO as investments are:
- STO is regulatory compliant as it follows all regulations and allows blockchain and cryptocurrencies to restore some credibility.
- STO have increased regulation and credibility which goes beyond Bitcoin futures and Custody Services.
- Private Companies can use the mechanics and governance models of security tokens to decrease administrative costs and increase the transaction speed.
- Fundraising can be easier as companies can surpass the time-draining process of negotiation and the process can be shortened.
- STO entitles the holder certain rights to dividend or other predefined revenue streams.
- STO facilitate services as lower cost and barriers to entry with faster infrastructure and no intermediaries which makes it easier to be a favorable micro-investment.
- STO is programmable and enforced by smart contracts.
- STO has a better success rate of nearly 99% as per research estimate.
- STO is not bounded by any government or regulations of a single country.
- STO having fewer mediators tend to reduce market manipulation in general.
- STO is more convenient to liquidate rather than other forms of investments.
Conclusion
As STO solves the problems and loopholes in the ICO process and provides better and safer investments for the investors and traders, we can hope for the fast adoption of STO in the future. Though there are certain obstacles and legal procedures of obtaining an STO as Retail Investors cannot easily get access to STO as like ICO but considering the security and reliability side, STO is superior option to get massive adaption in the coming days.