Singapore-based iSTOX sets sights on China expansion

By Edil Corneille

Singapore-based iSTOX has announced that it has taken a major step towards expanding into the China market today with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Chongqing, one of China’s fastest growing cities by population and economic output.

iSTOX and Chongqing’s financial regulator will work together to establish a Chongqing-Singapore Financial Services Hub, which will include a digitised securities exchange by iSTOX to serve the Chinese market and a potential tie-up between iSTOX and Chongqing state-owned investment companies.

The agreement has several parts and involves a potential tie-up between iSTOX and two state-owned investment companies under the Chongqing Municipal Government – namely, the Chongqing Development Investment Co Ltd, which makes investments in strategic infrastructure and development projects on behalf of the city of Chongqing, and the Chongqing Share Transfer Center, which was formed to develop the city’s private capital market. The end goal here is a hub that will serve as an international platform for investment through digitised securities, particularly the China market.

iSTOX co-founder and COO Darius Liu said, “China is the world’s fastest growing private capital market and Chinese investments have been an important enabler of economic growth, the rise of world-class companies and higher living standards – both globally and in China. With this agreement, the Chinese authorities are signalling their confidence in the regulated cutting-edge technology that underpins our digital securities platform. Together with our Chongqing partners, iSTOX can provide Chinese companies access to international capital by issuing digital securities to fund their expansion. Through iSTOX, Chinese investors can also gain access to high-quality global investments and a chance to diversify their investments geographically.”

Liu apprised that this is the first overseas expansion by iSTOX and it will be expanding its presence in other countries as well. The platform believes that in a digital age, investments across borders should be seamless. Furthermore, regulated platforms like iSTOX must work with governments and regulators everywhere to build the safe and efficient infrastructure needed to bring investing into the 21st century.

iSTOX is an integrated platform for digitised securities. Regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the platform uses proprietary technology to directly connect buyers and sellers. In doing so, iSTOX provides accredited investors with access to previously out-of-reach investment opportunities, including private equity, unicorns, hedge funds, and private debt, among others.