Securities Token Exchanges Cranking Up in US: BOX +tZero

Lisa Fall, BOX Digital Exchange

Now that crypto cool kids are finally getting the memo: “These are Securities!” ,  the proposed first fully regulated Securities Token Exchange is coming to the US-via the Boston Options Exchange.

tZERO, the digital-themed broker-dealer created by Patrick Byrne and BOX Digital Markets LLC (BOX Digital)-a subsidiary of Boston Options Exchange, announced it has formed a joint venture to launch the industry’s first regulated security token exchange.

Lisa Fall, BOX Digital Exchange

Lisa Fall, Box Digital

On May 18, 2018, the two companies entered into a letter of intent to form an exchange to list and publicly trade security tokens for companies that issue, or convert existing stock to, security tokens. The proposed joint venture would be equally owned by tZERO and BOX Digital, with each having equal representation on the Board of Directors, together with one mutually agreed upon independent director. Lisa Fall, who currently serves as CEO of BOX Digital and as president of BOX Options Exchange LLC, would be the CEO of the joint venture.

“tZERO has proven to be a pioneer in the development and practical use of blockchain technologies for capital markets for a number of years,” said Ms. Fall. “tZERO’s track record and accomplishments in this innovative area, coupled with BOX’s expertise in operating a highly efficient and transparent equity options marketplace, made partnering together an easy decision and we look forward to building a world-class platform for listing and trading security tokens.”

tZERO plans to contribute cash and license tZERO’s blockchain technology for operation of the security token market. BOX Digital will contribute expertise and personnel toward obtaining regulatory approval and operation of the security token market. Approval of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will be sought following execution of definitive documentation. Creation of the joint venture is subject to definitive documentation and customary conditions.

“Our partnership with BOX Digital Markets is a significant milestone that will create the first SEC-regulated exchange designed to efficiently trade crypto securities. Lisa Fall’s leadership, reputation and deep experience in the regulated securities exchange industry will be a major asset in achieving this objective,” said Saum Noursalehi, newly appointed CEO of tZERO. “Together, we will continue to work with the SEC as we develop a first-of-its-kind platform that will integrate blockchain capital markets into the current U.S. National Market System.”

“Now that pragmatic securities industry thought-leaders have figured out how to package crypto assets within the construct of a security so as to conform to the US regulatory regime, nobody can dispute the fact the genie is out of the bottle .  Securities Token Offerings (“STOs”) is a much more palatable approach, making way for a new mantra, “ICOs are dead, long live STOs”, until of course, another shoe drops.

For the full story from Traders Magazine, click here

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Veteran-Owned Broker-Dealer’s Memorial Day Month Pledge

mischler-financial-veteran-owned-memorial-day-pledge

Since its inception in 1995, boutique investment bank and institutional brokerage Mischler Financial Group (“MFG”) has been devoted to meeting the capital market needs of the nation’s leading corporations, municipal issuers and a broad spectrum of the industry’s most demanding investment managers and public plan sponsors. Positioned as a firm that ‘punches above its weight class in every metric’, Mischler is viewed by corporate treasurers and 6-pack banks as a ‘pure complement’ to the role played by lead underwriters. The firm’s highly-coveted middle-markets investor base, comprised of public plan sponsors and investment managers are notoriously ‘under-covered’ by the big Wall Street banks, and Mischler’s ability to bring these relationships to primary market offerings floated by Fortune corporations is a noticeable value add. The firm is also known for being the sell-side’s first and arguably, most foremost minority broker-dealer owned and operated by Service-Disabled Veterans.

Of equal importance, throughout its history, the firm has committed resources and year-round financial support to veteran-centric legislative initiatives, career building and mentoring veterans. This includes support of philanthropic programs focused on improving the quality of SDVs and their families’ lives as well as charitable programs that concentrate on supporting the families of military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of serving our country.

dean chamberlain

Mischler Financial Group CEO Dean Chamberlain

In connection with the firm’s year-round philanthropic mission, the months of May and November are specifically dedicated to honoring Memorial Day and Veterans Day. During these two months, Mischler contributes a percentage of the firm’s profit to select organizations that according to Chief Executive Officer Dean Chamberlain, a West Point grad and certified SDV,  “We deploy support to organizations that have a positive impact on the lives of vets, SDVs and Gold Star family members who simply do not have the depth of resources that so many of us take for granted.”

In honor of “Memorial Day Month 2018,” Mischler announced its annual pledge to the Semper Fi Fund, one of the country’s highest-rated charities. Formed in 2004, “SFF” is committed to providing immediate financial assistance, education scholarships, career transition programs and life-time support to post-9/11 combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.  Since its inception, Semper Fi Fund has distributed over $167 million to more than 20,000 service members and their families and MFG is therefore privileged to continue our support of SFF.

Stated Chamberlain, “On behalf of the entire Mischler Financial Group family, we are grateful and honored that clients of our firm will be supporting our Memorial Day Month 2018 pledge via our trading and capital markets desks and/or direct contribution to SFF.