ASIC looking to regulate overseas ICOs under Australian laws

Australian regulations may apply to ICOs, even when created and offered overseas, warns commissioner.

ASIC will be eyeing initial coin offerings (ICOs) as it moves to update its guidelines for companies raising funds by issuing digital currencies or tokens. Specifically, it warns that Australian laws may apply to ICOs even when they’re created and offered from overseas.

“We will highlight that Australian corporate and consumer law might apply – even if the ICO is created and offered from overseas,” said ASIC Commissioner John Price at a Sydney fintech event. “This is an important point given the international nature of this sector. I think you can expect a strong focus from us in this area.”

ICOs are a lot like an initial public offering of stock, except they involve the selling of digital tokens and are largely beyond regulation in many markets. This has led to “a certain level of opportunism” in the space, Price says.

It’s estimated that about 10% of funds raised in ICOs end up being stolen, making it a high risk option for potentially unwary consumers. These might disappear through exit scams, hack attacks, because the project just wasn’t that good, or because the inexperienced founders realise — after raising millions of dollars of investor money — that hard work on a meaningful digital currency project is a lot less appealing than retiring early.

The general shadiness of the ICO space has seen corresponding growth in businesses that aim to help customers separate the good ICOs from the bad, but these often get it wrong and simply end up instilling a false sense of confidence.

ASIC is worried that the stories which come out about shady or immature businesses could diminish investor confidence, Price said.

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Source: ASIC looking to regulate overseas ICOs under Australian laws | finder.com.au