Australian Regulators Recognise the Positive Potential of ICOs

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) today released a guidance paper to help issuers of initial coin offerings (ICOs) consider their legal Obligations Obligations In finance, an obligation is a financial responsibility where the terms of a contract must be met. Should an obligation between parties fail then the party who is at default may face legal action. In this scenario, the guilty party will not only have to agree to pay the set amount to fulfill the contractual arrangement but may also be responsible for covering all legal proceedings cost. Routine payments or outstanding debt of any kind are considered financial obligations, so if someone owes you In finance, an obligation is a financial responsibility where the terms of a contract must be met. Should an obligation between parties fail then the party who is at default may face legal action. In this scenario, the guilty party will not only have to agree to pay the set amount to fulfill the contractual arrangement but may also be responsible for covering all legal proceedings cost. Routine payments or outstanding debt of any kind are considered financial obligations, so if someone owes you Read this Term in the country. While warning investors to look out for possible scams, ASIC has taken a much more constructive approach than other regulators such as the US SEC and especially the central bank of China.

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ASIC says that it recognises that ICOs have the potential to make an important contribution to the options available to businesses regarding fundraising and investment options.

The commission explains that an ICO must be conducted in a manner that promotes investor trust and confidence, and complies with the relevant laws. Which regulations apply to an ICO will depend on the type of ICO offering and what rights are attached to the coins from the ICO itself, and the underlying coins or tokens used in the ICO.

Finance Magnates recently interviewed Dave Martin, the MD of Australian Blockchain Blockchain Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned). In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data, making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamp Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned). In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data, making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tamp Read this Term-powered peer-to-peer renewable marketplace Power Ledger, to talk about ASIC's approach.

ASIC Commissioner John Price said today: "We want to ensure innovative firms understand the regulatory framework they may be operating under and ensure they meet any obligations they may have when raising funds in Australia."

Commissioner Price added the obligatory warning: "ICOs are highly speculative investments, are mostly unregulated and the chance of losing your investment is high. Consumers should understand the risks involved, including the potential for these products to be scams, before investing."