Taurus SA, a Swiss digital asset infrastructure provider that Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse support, has partnered with Aktionariat AG, a Swiss equity tokenization platform, to establish the first regulated secondary market for tokenized shares of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The press release indicates that Taurus will support specific shares tokenized with Aktionariat on the Ethereum blockchain.
Aktionariat will concurrently provide a pathway for client companies to commence trading on the Taurus Digital Exchange (TDX).
Taurus stated that the companies become eligible for TDX admission as they meet the specified criteria and increase market capitalization.
In November, the collaboration will be operational.
The initial Aktionariat-tokenized SMEs will commence trading on TDX following this step.
In the interim, it was stated that the partnership integrates Aktionariat’s expertise in tokenizing Swiss companies’ equity with Taurus’ institutional-grade trading technology.
TDX aims to “enhance liquidity and unlock value for tokenized SMEs and their shareholders by granting them access to its network of banks, professional investors, and retail clients.”
Furthermore, Taurus CMO Victor Busson stated that the partnership contributes to developing a robust ecosystem for investors and issuers. It “exhibits how tokenization can enhance the liquidity and accessibility of the private capital market.”
RealUnit Schweiz is Among the First Issuers
Taurus contends that acquiring private security should be as simple and uncomplicated as purchasing a book online. This encompasses equity, debt, and other assets, such as real estate and funds.
Therefore, according to the company, this most recent collaboration with Aktionariat aligns with Taurus’ overarching objective of providing investors greater access to private equity and digitizing private markets.
RealUnit Schweiz AG, an investment company specializing in real estate, was one of the first tokenized SMEs to be approved for trading on TDX following the partnership.
RealUnit’s shares were tokenized with Aktionariat in April 2022. It has allowed investors to maintain the shares in any Ethereum-based wallet.
Moreover, the press release stated that the company had facilitated a first in the Swiss capital market. In other words, it allowed investors to use registered shares as tokens or traditional bearer shares.
The securities firm is “particularly enthusiastic about the potential for companies like RealUnit to leverage our platform, showcasing the tangible benefits of tokenization for both issuers and investors,” as Taurus CMO Victor Busson stated.
According to Taurus, the expansion of the tokenized SME ecosystem is expected to attract several additional companies in 2025.
Dani Stüssi, CEO of RealUnit, stated that this is one of the first Swiss companies to provide tokenized instruments.
The company’s “journey to increase accessibility and liquidity” for its investors and provide access to actively managed real asset investments is exemplified by trading on TDX, a “natural next step.”
The company stated that Aktionariat is utilized by over 30,000 registered shareholders and 70 issuers.
Its product suite includes:
- A portfolio application for investors.
- An automated shareholder registry for issuers.
- Web-based tools to “organize the relations” between the two.
Aktionariat, according to CEO Murat Ögat, aims to empower businesses to capitalize on the potential of blockchain-based financing.
“Although we currently provide tools to facilitate the sale and limited informal trading of security tokens, there is a dearth of licensed marketplaces for security tokens.” “Taurus’ digital marketplace addresses this deficiency,” Ögat concluded.
