Real estate is an asset class that is ripe for integration with blockchain technology. Security tokens cover many categories but are dominated by real estate. The Cointelegraph Research Terminal is hosting a 33-page report by Security Token Market, a data and media firm, that covers the current state of real estate security tokens and the potential for continued adoption. If you represent a real estate firm or have a portfolio that encompasses real estate, this report has the information you need to know on this developing shift in the industry. Click here to purchase the full report, complete with charts …

Major global cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex is finally moving forward with its security token platform (STO) in Kazakhstan, opening the first day of trading. Bitfinex Securities, Bitfinex’s blockchain-based investment platform, is officially starting on Tuesday, the company representatives announced to Cointelegraph. Announced in September 2021, the new STO platform is regulated within Kazakhstan’s national financial hub known as the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC). Bitfinex Securities specifically operates from a special economic zone in Kazakhstan, which has an independent court system, according to Bitfinex Securities chief technology officer Paolo Ardoino. The platform is not available to citizens or residents of countries …

DeFi banking protocol MELD recently made headlines for attracting more than $1 billion worth of staked Cardano (ADA) to its protocol through a novel funding mechanism called an initial stake pool offering, or ISPO, marking an important innovation in how early adopters support blockchain startups. Cointelegraph had the opportunity to connect with MELD CEO Ken Olling to discuss the significance of the ISPO as well as Cardano’s role in facilitating widescale participation in the stake pools. ISPO: An overview The ISPO is a novel way for investors and other early adopters to support a project by delegating cryptocurrency to public …

During bull markets, altcoins tend to accrue gains when Bitcoin price consolidates and at they run in tandem with BTC price during breakouts. This dynamic appears to be at play today because multiple altcoins went parabolic at the same time that BTC made a run at $64,000 and Ether (ETH) hit a new all-time high above $4,500. According to data from Messari, 31 tokens have established new record-highs in the past 24-hours and the total cryptocurrency market cap increased from $2.619 trillion to $2.732 trillion overnight. Let's take a closer look at the motivating factors behind the rallies in LCX …

Major blockchain technology company Blockstream has completed six tranches of its Bitcoin (BTC) mining security token offering (STO), securing a total of 30.9 million euros ($36 million). Blockstream officially announced Thursday that the company raised 13.9 million euros ($16.1 million) in the sixth tranche of its Bitcoin mining-focused security token known as Blockstream Mining Note (BMN). According to the announcement, the latest raise was the largest tranche that Blockstream has ever issued, marking increasing interest from individual and institutional investors. The raise brings the total BMN supply to more than 122, with the total number of investors amounting to 70. …

German financial regulators have approved a security token offering (STO) based on a Bitcoin (BTC) sidechain. Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has greenlighted the EXOeu token by game publisher Exordium, making local retail investors eligible to participate in the sale on Stokr, a major European digital marketplace. German investors can invest in EXOeu via Stokr with a minimum investment amount of $100. EXOeu is the second STO ever approved for the German market on Stokr after BaFin approved an STO by parking network ParkinGO last year. Launched in January 2021, the EXOeu security token is raising funds for the …

Virgin Islands-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex is moving into the security token offering (STO) industry by launching a new STO platform regulated in Kazakhstan. Bitfinex Securities, Bitfinex’s blockchain-based investment product provider, has launched its investment exchange regulated in Kazakhstan’s national financial hub, the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), the firm officially announced on Monday. The new STO platform will operate under the AIFC Fintech Lab, a regulatory sandbox established in the AIFC by the Astana Financial Services Authority to support development in the financial industry. Bitfinex Securities chief technology officer Paolo Ardoino told Cointelegraph that Bitfinex Securities is operating from a …

Security tokens may be poised for exponential growth as security tokenization industry players reveal optimistic forecasts based on surging demand. With that, the market size by 2025 could reach the $3 trillion mark, according to the area2invest report, a security token marketplace. The study by the Liechtenstein-based security token marketplace also suggests a market compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 56.9%. As Bernhard Thalhammer, head of issuer relations at area2invest, told Cointelegraph: “Every day, we receive several requests, not only from blockchain or crypto companies but also from more traditional businesses which have very concrete STO projects in mind.” He …

Canadian-based Blockchain tech company Blockstream announced the launch of a security token backed by the company's mining production on March 29. It offers an alternative to investing in Bitcoin mining stocks, with the company providing non-US qualified investors exposure to Bitcoin mining through the Blockstream Mining Note security token. BMN represents 2,000 terahash per second of hashrate from Blockstream's mining facilities. The Bitcoin mined for BMN will be held in cold storage for three years, and will be distributed to the final token holders at the end of that time frame. Blockstream plans to begin BMN mining operations by July …

Japan-based bank Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, or SMTB, has launched its first asset-backed securities token in partnership with Securitize on March 29. The instrument is the first security token compliant with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) to launch in the Japanese Market. The token has received an “a-1 rating” from Japanese rating agency, Rating and Investment Information, Inc, suggesting the product is very likely to fulfill its short-term obligations. The token was created by tokenizing paper-based beneficiary certificates representing investor ownership to an underlying asset. SMTB has also created a trust company to manage its underlying securitized investments. …

Italian luxury car manufacturer Mazzanti Automobili has launched its security token offering on regulated digital marketplace STOKR. As part of the offering, Mazzanti aims to raise 999,999 euros ($1.2 million) on STOKR to develop a special edition of its hypercar model Evantra Millecavalli R. According to a Thursday announcement, Mazzanti’s STO will allow investors to purchase MZZ tokens, priced at 1 euro each. The token is issued by Mazzanti via Blockstream AMP, a platform for the tokenization of securities built on the Liquid sidechain of Bitcoin, which has been directly integrated with STOKR. As part of the STO, MZZ investors …

Every Friday, Law Decoded delivers analysis on the week’s critical stories in the realms of policy, regulation and law. Editor's note Technology is by and large not the major barrier — though many in the industry have a decent bit of hubris about it. More important is that people, whenever their money is on the line, get mighty conservative. Which is not necessarily greedy or unreasonable, but it is why it was easier for lawmakers to greenlight email than electronic signatures. Conservatism surrounding money also means that old systems have to fail in a pretty conspicuous fashion for anyone to …