Backed Finance Chooses Switzerland for Tokenized Stock Offering
Issuer of xStocks, which represent shares of companies like Tesla, sidesteps whitelisting requirements by setting up shop in Switzerland.
Backed Finance, the company behind xStocks (tokenized representations of stocks), selected Switzerland as its base of operations to avoid the need for whitelisting in their tokenized stock offerings, according to co-founder Adam Levi.
Why Switzerland?
Levi stated that Switzerland's regulatory environment allows for the free transfer of xStocks, unlike other jurisdictions that would require a whitelist – essentially a pre-approved list of users allowed to hold the tokens. Backed Finance wanted to offer a truly permissionless system, believing it's essential for adoption.
What are xStocks?
xStocks are tokenized wrappers for underlying stocks like Tesla and Nvidia. They grant holders the economic value of the stock, but they are not the stock itself. Backed Finance holds the actual shares off-chain. While not available in the US, xStocks provide a means to invest in traditional stocks via blockchain.
The Key Takeaway
- Permissionless Approach: Backed Finance prioritizes open access over restrictive whitelists.
- Regulatory Arbitrage: The company leveraged Switzerland's innovation-friendly regulations to achieve its vision.
- Global Accessibility: xStocks aim to offer a familiar investment product (like the S&P 500) to users worldwide, potentially providing access to safer investments compared to volatile cryptocurrencies.
Investment Considerations
As always, investors should consider their risk tolerance and investment timeline before making allocation decisions. Bitcoin remains a volatile asset despite increasing institutional adoption.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor.
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