Coinbase, one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges worldwide, is exploring their options for launching an initial exchange offering (IEO) platform in the near future. Established in 2012, the San Francisco-based company provides their users with the ability to trade with digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin.
Initial Exchange Offerings are widely considered as the evolved versions of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). IEOs, however, grant issuers an immediate exchange listing and cooperation with the exchange. Since exchange offerings are hosted on the exchange, the know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money-laundering procedures take place at a higher security level.
Initial exchange offerings have already received approval by some of the largest crypto exchanges, such as Binance, OKcoin, Bitfinex, and Kucoin. IEO projects heavily rely on exchanges to assist them with the crowdfunding process since crypto exchanges, such as Coinbase, have large user base.
Amid the raised interest for IEO projects, Coinbase’s head of institutional sales, Kayvon Pirestani, lifted the curtains about the exchange plans.
During the Invest: Asia forum, Pirestani stated that Coinbase is carefully exploring the IEO and STO options for support on their platform.
“We see an interesting opportunity for Coinbase, not only in the IEO sector, but also with STOs. However, it is too early an official announcement to be made”, Pirestani added.
Speaking of Security Token Offerings (STOs), Coinbase received a “green light” by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for acquiring several security-token offering companies – Digital Wealth LLC, Venovate Marketplace, and Keystone Capital Corp. The acquisition and regulatory approval means Coinbase possess the technical capabilities for supporting STO projects.
Pirestani, however, stated that STO projects “are talked about much more than traded” and Coinbase will most probably wait for increased demand in such projects.
STOs are primarily backed by equity capital, giving the tokens the properties of traditional stocks. STO projects are often used for liquidity enhancements as STO tokens may represent actual shares of real estate, jewelry, art work and etc. All STOs are obliged to meet strict local and global regulatory criteria in order to be eligible for receiving issuance and listing approvals.
If a company like Coinbase supports IEOs, there may be a tendency of an increased demand for IEO projects. The demand could lead to entering an IEO maturity phase, with IEO projects reaching their peak.