EquiChain, a London-based Fintech company with an Asia regional office in Hong Kong, have announced it has a working prototype for capital markets.  The company plans to implement a full end-to-end ‘execution to custody’ (E2C) pilot in 2017, positioning EquiChain to deliver the full potential of distributed ledger technology.

EquiChain support

The company also announces the closing of its initial funding round, secured from its board members, advisors and close stakeholders.

EquiChain has already established an impressive coalition of active supporters, including top global asset managers such as Henderson Global Investors and Legal & General Investment Management. Reflecting its focus on enhancing the investment viability of emerging and frontier markets, beginning with the Middle East, EquiChain is also supported by the Abu Dhabi Global Market, Bahrain Bourse and Qatar Stock Exchange.

Two industry working groups

To ensure EquiChain’s capital markets platform maximises its potential in the years ahead, the company has established two industry working groups focusing on:

• Institutional Investors
• Market Infrastructure. 

EquiChain claim that these working groups will bring together thought leaders from across the industry to ensure an effective and considered development of the platform while embracing current and future regulatory requirements.

EquiChain aims for emerging markets

Nicholas Bone, EquiChain’s Founder & CEO said: “The current securities transaction lifecycle is complex, costly, time-consuming and fraught with risk.  EquiChain will use DLT to redefine securities transaction flows creating a full ‘execution to custody’ capability. EquiChain’s core platform is an independent, flexible foundational technology that allows incumbent market participants to redefine their roles in the industry. EquiChain creates a verifiable, transparent and immutable flow of information, facilitating direct interaction and enabling the streamlining of market processes. EquiChain’s innovation will catalyse industry collaboration to define a new capital markets operating model.”Bone continued: “Blockchain is particularly relevant for emerging and frontier markets, which are often perceived by foreign investors as being higher risk, while typically having less cumbersome existing infrastructure to accommodate. DLT gives such markets the opportunity to leapfrog existing solutions to deliver greater efficiency, liquidity and ease of access.”

---

CTMfile take: Distributed Ledger Technology is the ideal methodology for the emerging and frontier markets. By creating a full ‘execution to custody’ capability EquiChain could open up investment globally. Good luck.