With the rise of the Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in 2017 and their subsequent fall in late 2018, the crypto-industry is witnessing the rise of Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs) in response to the need for alternative project financing methods.
An IEO, as the name suggests, is a token sale where the sale of tokens is facilitated by a crypto-exchange on the behalf of the issuer. Consequently, the token would be immediately tradable on such exchange.
Both ICOs and IEOs appear to have the same end purpose - that is to receive funds from investors to raise capital and in return give investors project-specific utility tokens. However, the two fundraising methods differ on a number of points, making IEOs appear to be a more favourable fundraising method, especially for start-ups.
Fundraising forum
In an ICO, the investor sends the funds directly to the token issuer, usually through the issuer's website, whereby the issuer is in charge of the whole fundraising process. Alternatively, in an IEO, the buyer creates an account with the exchange that is hosting the offering and sends the funds there. The buyer then receives the tokens from the exchange itself. Therefore, during an IEO, the exchange acts as the middleman between the token issuer and the investors. The most notable advantage in this change of forum is the fact that the token is then immediately tradable on that particular exchange, giving immediate liquidity.
This benefits all of the parties to the transaction - the issuer, the investor and the exchange.
The Issuer: To carry out an ICO, an issuer usually has to allocate a high percentage of funds for the marketing of the project in order to reach out to the public and put to the project out there. This expense is substantially minimised with an IEO since the issuer has the facility of automatically tapping into the user base of the hosting exchange. Having a lower marketing budget means funds can be allocated elsewhere including further research and development of the project itself.
Moreover, whilst in the case of an ICO, the listing of the token comes at a second stage for the issuer and bearing further costs, with an IEO, the issuer does both the fundraising and the listing of the token at one go. Therefore, it is both more efficient and cost effective for the issuer himself.
There is also added security as to who invests in the project since the exchange itself would also carry out its own AML/CFT procedures prior to accepting any users on the platform.
The Investor: The Investor also benefits directly when investing through an IEO rather than an ICO. The main advantage is the immediate liquidity of the token as opposed to a situation where the token is listed at a very later stage, if at all.
Moreover, the investor may be able to invest in the project by using different currencies, possibly both fiat and cryptocurrencies which may otherwise be limited in the case of an ICO.
With IEOs, investors also benefit from added confidence in the project since the exchange itself would have screened such projects before accepting to onboard them in the first place. The risk of the project being a scam is therefore mitigated.
Exchange: The exchange also reaps benefits from an IEO in two main ways. Firstly, the exchange secures the listing fees of the specific project. Secondly, any followers of the project and marketing efforts of the issuer will benefit the exchange as new users are automatically directed to such exchange if they want to invest in the project.
Conducting an IEO from Malta
Whilst not specifically referred to in the law, IEOs are also covered by the VFA Regulatory Framework when conducted in or from within Malta. If the token is classified as a Virtual Financial Asset (VFA) by virtue of the Financial Instrument Test as published by the MFSA, the listing of such VFA on an exchange and its sale therefrom, triggers the obligations and the requirements under the VFA Regulatory Framework.
These include the following:
- The issuer has to be a Maltese entity managed by at least two directors;
- The issuer cannot circulate the whitepaper prior to the elapse of 10 days following its submission to the MFSA;
- The issuer is to appoint and keep appointed a VFA Agent, systems auditor, financial auditor, MLRO and a custodian;
- The issuer is considered as a subject person and is to abide by the relevant AML/CFT rules accordingly;
- The issuer is to submit a compliance certificate with the MFSA on an annual basis.
Dr Jade Fenech LL.B. (Hons) M.Adv. (Melit.) Legal Associate E&S Group
E&S Group is a boutique, multidisciplinary corporate advisory practice that provides a wide array of services to an international client base, from the simple setting up of a business operation to the more complex related issues. As a multidisciplinary group our pro-active team of practitioners, financial advisors, accountants and corporate administrators are available to assist, advise and deliver to any aspects of our clients’ operations. Contact E&S Group on +356 20103020 or via email at [email protected].