Aspen Resort Tokenization Offers “A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity”
What would have reportedly been the first U.S. REIT IPO for a single property is instead turning into a first of a different kind. Six months after shelving plans to begin trading Aspen REIT Inc.—backed solely by the St. Regis Aspen Resort in Aspen, CO–on the New York Stock Exchange, the property’s owners have begun to offer fractional ownership of the property via security tokens on a blockchain. The transaction marks crowdfunding site Indiegogo’s expansion into real estate.
The security tokens, being marketed as Aspen Coins, are cryptocurrency coins that serve as a replacement for paper certificates of equity in the property, in compliance with U.S. Regulation D Rule 506(c). Accredited investors, as defined under U.S. securities laws, are able to purchase Aspen Coins with U.S. dollars as well as with Bitcoin and Ether.
“We think we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a benchmark for what real estate tokenization looks like,” Stephane De Baets, founder and president of Elevated Returns, told Fortune magazine. Elevated Returns acquired the Aspen property in 2010.
“Security token offerings are the investment tool of the future, a mechanism designed to store wealth by utilizing income-producing digital assets,” De Baets said in a statement announcing the deal earlier this month.
“By opening access to investing in traditional assets like real estate, we are creating a new opportunity for investors to explore an ownership stake in something previously only accessible to private investors and high net worth individuals,” De Baets added. “Indiegogo is a well-known and trusted name in alternative funding and cryptocurrency, making them an incredible partner for us to leverage their influence, experience and global audience.”
At Indiegogo, co-founder Slava Rubin said, “We have always strived to foster innovation and provide our users access to some of the most novel and interesting products and ideas from around the world. With the blockchain revolution fully underway, we are excited about the world-changing impact and potential of security tokens.”
The goal with the Aspen Coins transaction, Rubin continued, is “to provide an access point to our growing network of millions of customers, and the opportunity to own a fragmented interest in the St. Regis Aspen Resort.”
For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Paul Bubny
- ◦Financing
Connect CRE News
Your source for daily news covering CRE transactions and trends. Stay informed on national, regional and property sector news that matters to your business.
Connect Events
Whether digital or in-person, Connect Events set the stage to bring together relevant content with CRE’s most active players to engage, influence and inform.
Connect CREative
A full-service marketing agency dedicated to CRE clients. Combining our CRE background with our team’s business, marketing, communications, technology, to develop and execute comprehensive strategies to create, build, and and grow successful brands.