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White & Case

Digital assets are transforming financial services and reshaping market infrastructure. Alongside fintech innovation, we support global tech leaders and freshly minted unicorns with strategic advice across deals, disputes and everyday operations.

https://www.whitecase.com/law/industries/financial-institutions/fintech-digital-assets

White & Case

Digital assets are transforming financial services and reshaping market infrastructure. Alongside fintech innovation, we support global tech leaders and freshly minted unicorns with strategic advice across deals, disputes and everyday operations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common challenges startups face in equity tokenisation?
The most common challenges include navigating FCA regulatory requirements, selecting the right tokenisation platform, structuring the legal framework for tokenised equity, educating investors unfamiliar with digital securities, and ensuring compliance with the UK Digital Securities Sandbox rules.
What are tokenisation platforms and how do they work?
Tokenisation platforms are regulated technology providers that convert equity or other assets into digital tokens on a blockchain or distributed ledger. In the UK, platforms operating under FCA oversight include those participating in the Digital Securities Sandbox. They handle the technical issuance, custody, and transfer of digital securities.
What financial insights should founders know before tokenising equity?
Founders should understand the cost structure of tokenisation (legal, platform, and compliance fees), the valuation implications of fractional ownership, how tokenised equity differs from traditional equity crowdfunding, and the tax treatment of digital securities under UK law.
What investor strategies apply to tokenised equity?
Investors in tokenised equity can benefit from fractional ownership of high-value assets, improved liquidity through secondary market trading on regulated platforms, portfolio diversification across early-stage UK startups, and participation in deals previously accessible only to institutional investors.
What is the UK regulatory landscape for equity tokenisation?
The UK regulatory landscape is governed primarily by the FCA and HM Treasury. Key frameworks include the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS), and ongoing FCA consultations on the treatment of tokenised securities.
What is equity tokenisation?
Equity tokenisation is the process of converting ownership rights in a company into digital tokens recorded on a blockchain or distributed ledger. These tokens represent shares or equity stakes and can be transferred, traded, or held digitally, subject to regulatory compliance.