Switzerland’s financial market supervisor has granted a startup Smart Valor the coveted license to operate in the Swiss financial market. FINMA’s approval open’s the way for the company to unveil an online investment platform later this year.
An official statement quoted by Reuters says the local Financial Services Standards Association (VQF) will now regulate Smart Valor on behalf of the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). FINMA has allowed VQF to become its anti-money laundering compliance arm.
Enhanced Goodwill
Smart Valor’s new status as a FINMA approved financial platform will enable the blockchain startup to gain more credibility in the market since the watchdog will actively supervise it to ensure AML compliance. FINMA and VQF did not comment on the report and it’s therefore not clear whether Smart Valor was the only company given the new status.
The Reuters report further stated that Smart Valor was likely to unveil an alternative online platform that will include digital currencies later this year. However, the company has indicated it is applying for a banking license which it hopes will enable it to offer securities investment in early 2019.
Smart Valor’s Olga Feldmeier told Reuters they believe tokenization will introduce a new approach to investing. Olga stated:
“Tokenization transforms the way people own things, improves liquidity, and makes these investment opportunities accessible to a broader audience of investors.”
About Smart Valor
Smart Valor is a blockchain Startup that intends to facilitate cross-border crypto finance. Based in Zug, Switzerland’s “Crypto Valley,” Smart Valor plans to create a decentralized marketplace to provide a tokenized alternative investment that’s backed by the secure custody of crypto assets.
Switzerland is trailing the blaze for countries active in cryptoshpere and is creating positive legislation to promote blockchain-based projects. In July this year, local companies assisted the Zug government to launch the first-ever online voting system based on blockchain technology, which trial involved 72 out of 240 citizens.
Alternative investments have a huge potential market and Smart Valor is likely to make it big with their idea of tokenizing liquid assets and streamlining the trading process. The company is presenting the VALOR platform as a blockchain-based solution and they plan to make it official to comply with local regulations. The company’s statement said further:
“Pending regulatory approval, the VALOR platform will expand its offering to asset-backed tokens, such as equity in blockchain companies, blockchain-related infrastructure projects, real estate, crypto funds, venture capital, and private equity funds.”
