NOTE: In May of 2021, iSTOX rebranded itself to ADDX.
Today we’re excited to announce a potentially big step in iSTOX’s evolution.
iSTOX 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. As part of that agreement, iSTOX and Chongqing’s financial regulator will work together to establish a Chongqing-Singapore Financial Services Hub, which will include a digital securities exchange by iSTOX to serve the Chinese market and a potential tie-up between iSTOX and Chongqing state-owned investment companies.
In this interview, we speak with iSTOX co-founder and COO Darius Liu on what this move means for iSTOX and the investing community.
Q: Can you tell us more about this agreement with Chongqing?
Darius:
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 digital securities, particularly the China market.
Q: Why is iSTOX making this decision?
Darius:
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.
Q: Is this a sign of things to come? Will iSTOX be expanding its presence in other countries as well?
Darius:
It is. This is the first overseas expansion by iSTOX, and it won’t be our last. We believe that in a digital age, investments across borders should be seamless. 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. In other words, stay tuned for more.
