Is there value in the tokenisation of securities assets over existing market infrastructure mechanisms?
The SWIFT Institute invites proposals for research on the tokenisation of assets, whether the digital representation of real assets on distributed ledgers or the issuance of traditional asset classes in tokenised form. Leveraging distributed ledger technologies and its inherent features, the tokenisation of assets is possibly the next evolutionary step in the dematerialisation journey of securities and a potential accelerator of the settlement cycle.
Originally viewed as a ‘niche’, retail, crypto-asset speculative segment, the tokenisation of assets and implications on core financial market activities and the underlying market infrastructure (MI) is now firmly on the institutional agenda.
To date academic research has primarily debated the benefits and technical features of native crypto-assets, decentralized digital currencies, and their related ecosystem(s), while less attention has been paid to tokenised securities assets. DLT and related technologies across the securities lifecycle have been attributed with benefits such as efficiency gains driven by automation and disintermediation, transparency, the potential for improved liquidity and faster and more efficient clearing and settlement. In practice, however, there is little quantitative research available to support these claims.
Equally, many questions remain over the operational impact on transaction flows regards the coexistence of existing practice and interoperability with an infrastructure that supports tokenised assets, especially in the case that DLT-based ecosystems have to be interlinked with other DLT platforms and/or with legacy systems through the existing rails. Concerns also exist related to potential challenges that may arise around access, governance and information security of any tokenised system. What rules will apply and can these be enforced in different jurisdictions? Who will reassure the user about effective performance?
Research and conclusions that provide answers to some of the aforementioned questions will bring valuable insights to the financial community and contribute to the wider policy and regulatory debate.
A grant of EUR 20,000 will be awarded to the author of the selected proposal.
Deadline for submissions: 02 October 2020
DOWNLOAD Ful Call for Proposal HERE