NEW YORK: When US entrepreneur Bharath Rao looked around for the best place to raise money for his crypto-currency derivatives trading business, the US did not make his list. Instead he chose the East African island nation of the Seychelles to sell the trading platform’s tokens.
Rao, a San Diego-based technology veteran who has worked for major Wall Street banks, is not alone.
Confronted with national regulators’ intensifying scrutiny of digital currency fund-raising, known as initial coin offerings, many entrepreneurs are moving businesses to locations more welcoming to crypto-currencies and known for low taxes.
Dozens of start-ups have flocked to Singapore, Switzerland, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean this year, according to interviews with entrepreneurs and company registration data made available to Reuters.
Like bitcoin, the best-known crypto-currency created in 2009, the coins use encryption and a blockchain transaction database enabling fast and anonymous transfer of funds without centralized payment systems.
The numbers compiled by crypto-currency research firm Smith + Crown show how national regulators’ attempts to curb coin sales may just shift business elsewhere.
The US leads with 34 digital currency start-up registrations so far this year, but that reflects Silicon Valley’s role as a technology hub and the depth of US financial markets rather than a welcoming regulatory climate.
Singapore registered 21 entities, up from one in 2016, followed by 19 in Switzerland, up from three last year, according to Smith + Crown. Central Europe saw 14 companies registered this year, compared with one in 2016, and the Caribbean hosted 10, up from two last year.
“The data affirms our sense that Switzerland and Singapore remain go-to locations, but the US could remain for companies raising large amounts of money,” said Matt Chwierut, Smith + Crown’s research director.
Switzerland does not have specific rules on digital coin sales, but some parts of an offer may fall under existing regulations, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) said in September.
So far, four of the five largest token sales, raising a total of over $600 million, were carried out by firms registered in Zug, a low-tax region south of Zurich known as the “crypto-valley” of the world.
In contrast, China and South Korea banned digital coin sales this year and regulators in the US, Malaysia, Dubai, UK and Germany warned investors that current scant oversight exposed them to risks of fraud, hacking or theft.
Soaring registrations in “friendly” jurisdictions show how hard it is for national watchdogs to regulate digital coin sales. It is a challenge regulators are beginning to recognize.
“We are talking to other regulators, and we know that there are a lot of bilateral discussions taking place,” the Dubai Financial Services Authority told Reuters.
The US Securities Exchange Commission declined to comment about the migration of coin issuers to remote jurisdictions.
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and Securities Commission Malaysia reiterated their stance that digital coin sales are high-risk, speculative investments and that retail investors should be aware of that.
A spokesman for Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) told Reuters “hopping” within the European Union would be “largely futile” since the EU supervisory authority has adopted the same stance as BaFin on the issue.
The Dubai regulator pointed out that seeking out friendly jurisdictions was not unusual, but regulators still needed to warn about the inherent risks in digital coin sales.
Financial regulators from South Korea and China were not immediately available for comment.
In the US, the SEC’s July 25 ruling that digital coins should be regulated as securities had a short-lived chilling effect on the crypto-currency market. Short-lived, because many US startups thought they could avoid such scrutiny by selling “utility tokens,” which gave buyers access to products or services rather than a stake in the company.
Still, concerns that regulators’ views might evolve have made potential US coin issuers consider sales overseas.
“Our lawyers certainly think regulations on utility tokens could change. So for safety, the ICO should be done outside the US,” said Arran Stewart, co-founder of Job.com, an online employment platform which plans a token offering in the Cayman Islands in February.
In fact, out of 15 start-ups interviewed by Reuters, only one, Airfox, sold digital tokens in the US, raising $15 million last month. Others have either carried out a coin sale overseas or are planning one.
Rao, who started Leverj, a decentralized crypto-currency futures trading platform, said he picked the Seychelles for fund-raising because of its openness to crypto-currencies.
“It has not issued anything negative on crypto,” Rao said.
Digital coin sales soared to about $3.6 billion by mid-November, compared with just over $100 million in the whole of 2016, according to Autonomous NEXT, which tracks technology in the financial services industry. Typically, issuers publish a “white paper” describing their business plan and the news of new coin sales spread via online forums and websites tracking new offers. Investors pay for them with bitcoins or ether — two most widely accepted crypto-currencies — via a company’s website.
The ease with which start-ups can raise millions of dollars with little scrutiny in as little as minutes has alarmed regulators, but without a unified approach they hold little sway over that new funding market.
“It’s very difficult for governments to work together in any organized fashion,” said Lewis Cohen, a partner at Hogan Lovells in New York, which has a team of lawyers specializing in blockchain.
“Different jurisdictions will look at token sales through different lenses and it would be very difficult to get on a completely harmonized place.” Nimble and lightly-regulated crypto-currency companies can straddle borders with ease.
For example, BANKEX, which aims to convert illiquid assets into tokens to be traded on its crypto-currency platform, is registered in Delaware and plans a coin offering in the Cayman Islands this month, said the company’s CEO, Igor Khmel.
Hogan Lovell’s Cohen said that while it would be foolish to shut token sales down, they should be regulated, or self-regulated.
“We may need to have some guard rails,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s really fair for legitimate platforms that are trying to create new and innovative business models to be thrown in with other less scrupulous parties who may see token sales as a way of making a fast buck.”
— REUTERS
Crypto-currency crackdown spreads from Dubai to London
Crypto-currency crackdown spreads from Dubai to London
NEOM board of directors announces leadership change
- Head of Public Investment Fund’s Local Real Estate Division since 2018, Al-Mudaifer has a deep and strategic understanding of NEOM and its projects
NEOM: The NEOM Board of Directors on Tuesday announced the appointment of Aiman Al-Mudaifer as acting CEO of the company. Al-Mudaifer assumes leadership of NEOM, following Nadhmi Al-Nasr’s departure.
As NEOM enters a new phase of delivery, this new leadership will ensure operational continuity, agility and efficiency to match the overall vision and objectives of the project.
Al-Mudaifer takes the helm of the organization with the support of a strong leadership team across NEOM’s regions, sectors and departments.
Head of Public Investment Fund’s Local Real Estate Division since 2018, Al-Mudaifer has a deep and strategic understanding of NEOM and its projects.
In his role at PIF, Al-Mudaifer oversees all local real estate investments and infrastructure projects. He is also a board member of multiple prominent companies within the Kingdom.
NEOM is a fundamental pillar of Saudi Vision 2030 and progress continues on all operations as planned, as we deliver the next phase of our vast portfolio of projects including THE LINE, Oxagon, Trojena, Magna and The Islands of NEOM.
Through these projects, NEOM seeks to achieve harmony between livability, business and nature, and to create a better future for current and future generations.
Maldives, Bulgaria push for greater climate action, financing
RIYADH: Insufficient financing continues to be a significant barrier preventing many countries, especially underdeveloped nations, from meeting their climate goals, according to the President of the Maldives.
Speaking on the second day of COP29, held in Azerbaijan from Nov. 11-22, Mohamed Muizzu emphasized that small island developing states require trillions, not billions, of dollars in climate finance.
“It is the lack of finance that inhibits our ambitions, which is why this COP, the finance COP, we need to deliver the new climate finance goal. This must reflect the true scale of the climate crisis. The need is in trillions, not billions,” Muizzu said.
He added, “It must consider the special circumstances of small island developing states — it must include adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage.”
Muizzu also reiterated the importance of the environment for his country, stating: “You have called for stronger climate action. Our call has not changed. Our cause has not strayed because, for us, the environment and the ocean are more than resources. They are our cultural identity.”
In a similar vein, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev addressed the global impact of climate-related disasters, emphasizing that no region is immune to the deadly and costly consequences of climate change.
“Bulgaria is committed not only to being part of regional and energy cooperation initiatives across Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Black Sea region but also beyond, by strengthening the links between the European Union and non-EU countries who share our priorities on climate neutrality, just energy transition, energy security, and low-carbon technological innovation,” Radev said.
He further called for broader action, stating, “All parties should undertake greater efforts to integrate climate change adaptation and resilience into all policies and strategies.”
Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to 12,048
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index fell on Tuesday, losing 58.74 points to close at 12,047.67.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.75 billion ($1.53 billion), with 70 stocks advancing and 152 declining.
Saudi Arabia’s parallel market saw a drop, losing 50.59 points to close at 29,110.41. The MSCI Tadawul Index also declined, shedding 5.06 points to end at 1,516.14.
The best-performing stock on the main market was Al Jouf Cement Co., with a 4.75 percent increase to SR10.58. Other top gainers included Malath Cooperative Insurance Co. and Elm Co., with shares rising by 4.40 percent to SR15.66 and 3.87 percent to SR1,101.1, respectively.
The worst performer on the main index was Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., whose share price dropped by 4.42 percent to SR12.12.
National Environmental Recycling Co., also known as Tadweer, announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Re Sustainability Middle East Co. to explore the potential for establishing smelters and recycling units in the Kingdom. According to a statement on Tadawul, the deal is valid for one year and carries no immediate financial impact.
The company’s share price declined by 0.45 percent to SR13.4.
Purity for Information Technology Co. announced it has secured a contract valued at SR10.7 million from Saudi Comprehensive Technical and Security Control Co. to supply technology equipment. The company stated that the financial impact of the contract will be reflected in the first quarter of next year.
Its share price dropped by 0.73 percent to SR8.33.
Red Sea International Co. reported a narrowed net loss of SR2.18 million for the first nine months of this year, compared to a SR54.7 million loss in the same period in 2023. According to a statement on Tadawul, the improvement was driven by a 515.78 percent year-on-year increase in sales revenue. However, Red Sea International’s share price declined by 4.05 percent to SR71.
Lazurde Co. for Jewelry reported a 42.98 percent decline in net profit for the first nine months, totaling SR24.8 million, compared to the same period last year. The company attributed this drop to a 6.61 percent year-on-year decrease in operating profit over the nine-month period. Lazurde’s share price dropped by 2.05 percent to SR13.36.
UN climate chief urges aggressive action as emissions hit GDP
- UN official warned that worsening climate impacts will ‘put inflation on steroids’ unless every country takes bolder climate action
- Simon Stiell called on governments to leave COP29 with a clear global climate finance plan
RIYADH: The global climate crisis is rapidly evolving into an economic threat, with the impact of emissions reducing the gross domestic product of several countries by up to 5 percent, a UN official said.
Speaking at the high-level segment for heads of state and government at the COP29 in Baku, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasized the urgent need for more aggressive climate actions to address economic challenges, including rising inflation.
“We used to talk about climate action as being mostly about saving future generations. But there has been a seismic shift in the global climate crisis, as the climate crisis is fast becoming an economy killer,” said Stiell.
He added, “In this political cycle, climate impacts are curving up to 5 percent off GDP in many countries. The climate crisis is a cost-of-living crisis, as climate disasters are driving up costs for households and businesses.”
Stiell’s comments came shortly after a report by finance consultancy Oxera, which revealed that climate-related extreme weather events have cost the global economy more than $2 trillion over the past decade, with the US being the most affected.
The UN official warned that worsening climate impacts will “put inflation on steroids” unless every country takes bolder climate action.
Stiell urged the world to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the economic suffering caused by slow and ineffective collective action on supply chain issues.
Describing climate finance as “global inflation insurance,” he warned that failing to address the economic toll of climate change would lead to disaster.
“Letting this issue languish halfway down cabinet agendas is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
However, Stiell remained optimistic, asserting that effective climate action could save economies and create new economic opportunities. He pointed to the growth of renewable energy as a potential driver of stronger financial states for nations.
“This isn’t just about saving your economies and people,” he said. “Bolder climate action can drive economic opportunity. Cheap, clean energy can be the bedrock of your economies. It means more jobs, growth, less pollution choking cities, healthier citizens, and stronger businesses.”
Stiell called on governments to leave COP29 with a clear global climate finance plan and urged international cooperation as the key to combating global warming and ensuring humanity’s survival.
“We need your direct engagement on new national climate targets and plans — NDCs — so that all of you can benefit from the boom in clean energy and climate resilience,” said Stiell.
He added: “These are not easy times, but despair is not a strategy, nor is it warranted. Our process is strong, and it will endure. After all, international cooperation is the only way humanity can survive global warming.”
OPEC revises down global oil demand growth forecasts for 2024, 2025
- OPEC revised its 2024 global oil demand growth estimate to 1.82 million barrels per day, down from 1.93 million bpd forecast last month
LONDON: The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has again downgraded its global oil demand growth projections for both 2024 and 2025, marking the fourth consecutive reduction.
The revision, announced on Tuesday, underscores weaker demand expectations for key regions such as China, India, and other parts of the world.
The updated forecast highlights the ongoing challenges faced by OPEC+, the broader alliance that includes OPEC members and partners like Russia. Earlier this month, OPEC+ delayed plans to increase oil output starting in December, citing concerns over falling oil prices.
In its latest monthly report, OPEC revised its 2024 global oil demand growth estimate to 1.82 million barrels per day, down from 1.93 million bpd forecast last month. This marks the first revision to the outlook since it was initially set in July 2023.
China was the primary driver of the downward revision. OPEC reduced its forecast for Chinese oil demand growth to 450,000 bpd, down from 580,000 bpd, noting that diesel consumption in September dropped year on year for the seventh consecutive month. OPEC attributed this decline to a slowdown in construction and weak manufacturing activity, as well as the rising use of LNG-fueled trucks in China.
The weaker outlook weighed on oil prices, with Brent crude trading below $73 per barrel following the release of the report.
The demand outlook for 2024 remains uncertain, with significant differences among forecasters regarding the strength of global demand growth, particularly concerning China’s recovery and the pace at which the world transitions to cleaner fuels.
In addition to the 2024 revision, OPEC also lowered its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2025 to 1.54 million bpd, down from the previous estimate of 1.64 million bpd.
