Taurus SA, a Swiss digital asset infrastructure provider backed by Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, has teamed up with Aktionariat AG, a Swiss equity tokenization platform, to introduce the first regulated secondary market for tokenized shares of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This partnership will enable SMEs to trade tokenized shares on the Ethereum blockchain, facilitating greater liquidity and accessibility for private capital markets.
Tokenized SME Shares to Trade on Taurus Digital Exchange
Under the new partnership, Taurus will support select shares tokenized through Aktionariat, offering these companies the opportunity to trade on the Taurus Digital Exchange (TDX) as they meet specific market capitalization and eligibility criteria. Aktionariat’s client companies will now have a direct pathway to join TDX, a platform designed to provide broader market exposure to SMEs.
The initiative is set to launch in November 2024, marking the first time Aktionariat-tokenized SMEs will begin trading on a regulated digital exchange. This collaboration will leverage Taurus’ institutional-grade trading infrastructure and Aktionariat’s expertise in tokenizing Swiss companies’ equity, unlocking value and liquidity for shareholders.
Enhancing Liquidity and Accessibility for Private Markets
According to Taurus CMO Victor Busson, the partnership aims to create a thriving ecosystem for both issuers and investors. “This collaboration demonstrates how tokenization can increase liquidity and accessibility for the private capital market,” he stated. The companies involved will gain access to TDX’s extensive network, including banks, professional investors, and retail clients.
RealUnit Schweiz AG Among First to Join TDX
One of the first companies to benefit from this partnership is RealUnit Schweiz AG, a real-estate-focused investment company that tokenized its shares with Aktionariat in April 2022. RealUnit shareholders can hold their shares in Ethereum-based wallets, representing a significant innovation in the Swiss capital market. The company offers both traditional bearer shares and registered shares in tokenized form.
RealUnit CEO Dani Stüssi expressed excitement about joining the TDX, calling it a “natural next step” in the company’s journey to increase liquidity and accessibility for its investors. Trading on the TDX platform will provide RealUnit with the opportunity to expand access to actively managed real asset investments.
Building a Tokenized SME Ecosystem
Taurus expects several more companies to join the TDX marketplace by 2025, as the tokenized SME ecosystem grows. Aktionariat currently serves over 30,000 registered shareholders and 70 issuers, offering a suite of tools that include a portfolio app for investors and an automated shareholder registry for issuers.
Murat Ögat, CEO of Aktionariat, emphasized the importance of creating licensed marketplaces for security tokens. “While we already offer tools to enable the sale and limited informal trading of security tokens, there is a lack of licensed marketplaces for these tokens. Taurus fills this gap with its digital marketplace,” Ögat concluded.
This partnership signifies a major step toward digitizing private equity markets and making tokenized shares more accessible and tradable for a broader range of investors.
