Crypto-Token Classifications
Introduction
“Token” has become such an overloaded term. There are a LOT of tokens out there, and as the burgeoning crypto-industry matures, it’s critical to make thoughtful decisions regarding fundamentals (like naming conventions) that will be used for years to come. Entities like the Chamber of Digital Commerce have started organizations and devoted teams of expert resources to this end. To that end, today we’d like to spend some time proposing some definitions of token classifications to keep this complex industry simple and clear.
Regulated Tokens
Tokens that are classified as securities, commodities, or any other pre-existing classification of regulated financial instruments are straightforward in their naming. A regulated token that falls under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for example, would be a Security Token. We won’t spend much time discussing these types of tokens, as the method of regulated token classification is complex and should only be performed by experienced attorneys and regulators.
As a litmus test, if your token can be bought/sold for financial profit, pays dividends, or comes with voting rights, then it’s probably a Regulated Token.
If you think you may have or want a regulated token, please consult experienced counsel. Do not use this blog post or any other public materials to try to classify it yourself, just hire an attorney and thank us later (seriously, it’s not worth it).
Utility Tokens
Where it starts to get a little fuzzy is in the “non-regulated” token space. Historically, crypto-token development teams who don’t want their token to fall under any regulatory regimes would claim that because a token can be used to do something (e.g., execute a smart contract), it has an inherent “utility” value that disqualifies it from being a traditional financial instrument that may fall under government regulation. At this point, there is no formal regulator of Utility Tokens, only a distinction between Regulated Tokens and Non-Regulated Tokens. Therefore, as of now a token can have utility and still be a Regulated Token.
We consider any token that can be used without another party’s consent as having utility value, and thus a Utility Token. For example, Ether is a Utility Token because it can be used to execute a smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain without needing someone to approve it, giving it an inherent use. Tokens that function as voting ballots, allow access, or redeem automated goods/services would also fall into this category.
Consumer Tokens
Recently, the classification of Consumer Tokens has become popularized as a prospective alternative to Utility Tokens. There is a considerable debate over what specifically constitutes a Consumer Token and whether the classification should replace, augment, or subclass “Utility Tokens” (here’s a public Google-Doc managed by ConsenSys debating how to classify them).
In our minds, a Consumer Token should be a subclass of Utility Tokens. Ultimately, we believe a Consumer Token classification should be distinct from a generic Utility Token in two major ways.
- A Consumer Token is not re-spendable, whereas a Utility Token is not necessarily consumed or rendered otherwise un-spendable once used.
- A Consumer Token must not be a financial vehicle. This means it has a fixed price point in fiat and is not traded on an open market, while Utility Token may be traded on an open market.
Granted, the above two differentiators represent an oversimplification of many points of consideration, but they represent the primary differences. Most Utility Tokens will fail one of those two checks to be qualified as a Consumer Token. With the above definitions in mind, we believe that GMT is a Consumer Token.
Consumer Tokens fill a niche not previously satisfied by other token classifications. Cryptocurrencies are, as a whole, complicated to the average person, and Consumer Tokens stand to simplify them. They have a fixed dollar value, don’t involve knowledge of financial models, and can only be used once.
While the debate surrounding Consumer Tokens is ongoing, it raises a few interesting questions surrounding logistics like where to obtain Consumer Tokens if not on an open market? What are the responsibilities of token issuers to owners of Consumer Tokens? What are the responsibilities of token issuers surrounding unsponsored secondary market activity? Etc.
Conclusion
There are many other classifications of tokens we did not touch on in this post, such as asset tokens, collectable tokens, reputation tokens, etc., that we may revisit in a future post. As everyone gains more clarity on the real world usage and best practices surrounding crypto-tokens, we’re excited to see the industry mature and continue exploring self-regulation, which starts with a shared vocabulary around these complex topics.
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