Swiss SMEs can now tokenize their shares on the Ethereum blockchain, offering investors a digital way to hold equity.
Swiss crypto management platform Taurus SA and Aktionariat AG have partnered to advance the use of tokenized shares among Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By merging Taurus’ trading technology with Aktionariat’s equity tokenization platform, they seek to boost liquidity and broaden market access via the Taurus Digital Exchange (TDX).
Their first project involves RealUnit Schweiz AG, an investment firm that tokenized its shares in April 2022 through Aktionariat’s platform. By November 2024, these shares will be available for trading on TDX, marking a key milestone in digital equity trading for Swiss firms.
Tokenization to Drive Liquidity
Swiss SMEs can now tokenize their shares on the Ethereum blockchain, offering investors a digital way to hold equity. Tokenized shares give investors a choice between bearer shares, which aren’t listed in formal registries, and registered shares. This system maintains the legal and economic rights of traditional shares while enhancing liquidity, a key issue for many SMEs.
Victor Busson, Taurus Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized that tokenized shares carry the same economic and social rights as regular shares. However, unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, lost tokens can be reissued by the company through shareholder records, adding an extra layer of security for investors managing tokens off formal exchanges.
Taurus aims to list shares tokenized by Aktionariat on its TDX marketplace, linking them to banks, retail clients, and professional investors. This shift allows for round-the-clock trading, removing the liquidity limitations that SMEs often face in conventional markets.
The partnership between Taurus and Aktionariat is expected to set an example for other companies. Murat Ögat, CEO of Aktionariat, highlighted the importance of a regulated, blockchain-based marketplace for security tokens. He described Taurus’ digital marketplace as a vital solution for filling the gap in licensed platforms for trading security tokens.
Swiss SMEs to Benefit from Blockchain-Driven Markets
RealUnit Schweiz AG leads this collaboration, with CEO Dani Stüssi saying that joining TDX aligns with their goal of making real asset investments more accessible. By partnering with the Taurus-Aktionariat initiative, RealUnit boosts its liquidity and strengthens its leadership in tokenization technology.
“Being admitted to trade on TDX is a natural next step in our journey to increase accessibility and liquidity for our investors,” said CEO Dani Stüssi.
This effort is set to expand by 2025, as more Swiss SMEs are expected to join, further growing the ecosystem of tokenized companies on the Taurus platform. Taurus already advanced SME loan tokenization through its collaboration with German fintech Teylor in December 2023, continuing to drive innovation in blockchain-based finance.
next