ISTA Special Interview : Digishres CEO, Claus Skaaning
"In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital finance, the fusion of technology and traditional assets is unlocking new paradigms of investment and ownership. Today, we are at the cusp of a significant transformation, thanks to the advent of security tokens and the tokenization of real-world assets. To delve deeper into this revolutionary trend, we had the privilege of speaking with Claus Skaaning, the visionary CEO of DigiShares, a leading platform in the security token issuance and circulation space. Join us as we explore Claus's insights into the future of tokenization and its potential to redefine the global financial ecosystem."
Q1. How do you see security tokens and the tokenization of real-world assets impacting the traditional financial ecosystem?
Thanks to tokenization, investors from around the world can purchase tokenized shares in a real world asset, with stablecoins contained in their self-custodial wallet. These investors can enter into an atomic swap smart contract directly with the issuer (e.g. a real estate developer) or with other investors (on a secondary market). Rules and obligations related to governance and compliance can be embedded directly into the token code.
Compared to the current system with players such as SWIFT, securities brokers, escrow banks, lawyers manually approving transactions, centralized share registers, isolated cap table managment tools, etc., this will:
- significantly reduce reliance on intermediaries
- reduce cross-border transaction fees
- create the necessary infrastructure for increased liquidity
- automate most compliance and governance processes
Q2. What are the key differentiators of your security token issuance and circulation platform compared to others in the market?
The customizability and flexibility of our white-label platform is greatly appreciated by our clients. We have numerous API endpoints that facilitate the customization of UI/UX, the integration of third party service providers and the integration of the client’s existing tech infrastructure. Our clients can mint and offer tokens independently without us getting involved in the day to day operation.
This is a crucial difference with some of the other leading providers who focus more on the institutional fund space and do not provide the tools for such advanced customizability and client independence.
Q3. How is your company addressing the legal and regulatory challenges associated with security tokens and RWA tokenization?
We do this thanks to multiple elements:
an internal legal counsel with experience in the securities compliance space, who helps make sure DigiShares is always acting in a compliant manner
various partnerships with regulated entities when necessary (such as with an ATS for secondary trading in the US)
a strong law firm network built to help our clients stay compliant in most significant jurisdictions
Q4. What do you perceive as the major challenges and opportunities for security tokens and RWA tokenization in the coming years?
Some challenges for issuers:
dealing with more (fractional) investors
more price discovery, i.e. freedom for the market to decide what the asset is worth
legal complications in some jurisdictions
user comfort with crypto wallets
low liquidity in tokenized secondary markets as of today
Overcoming these challenges will require acceptance of increased transparency & communication, choosing the right jurisdictions, better UI/UX for web3 products and network effects to play out over time.
5. How does your company stay responsive to technological innovations and market changes, and what new technologies or strategies do you plan to adopt moving forward?
DigiShares is at the forefront of innovation in the following areas:
open, decentralized ID standards (DITO partnership with Polygon ID)
smart contract based trading of real world assets (realestate.exchange)
security token standards (ERC-1400 association)
We will always seek to play a positive role in developing technology and standards that help the adoption of tokenization.
As we conclude our enlightening conversation with Claus Skaaning, it's clear that the tokenization of assets is not just a fleeting trend but a cornerstone of the future financial landscape. The insights shared today underscore the transformative power of blockchain technology in democratizing investment, enhancing liquidity, and streamlining compliance and governance processes. As the industry continues to navigate the complexities and opportunities of this digital revolution, the visionaries like Claus and platforms like DigiShares will undoubtedly play pivotal roles in shaping a more accessible and transparent financial world. Stay tuned to our blog for more updates and discussions on the forefront of digital finance innovation.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
ISTA, Secretary General
Augustin Jiang
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