While tokenisation remains at an earlier stage of development in the UK, understanding the terminology and structures involved can help issuers follow developments in digital ownership and market infrastructure. Not every token linked to a company’s shares represents actual ownership or carries the same shareholder rights.
This one-page briefing explains the differences between issuer-sponsored tokenised shares and synthetic tokens, helping issuers understand how each model may affect ownership records, shareholder rights, governance, and issuer visibility.
What you'll learn
- What is the difference between a tokenised share and a synthetic token?
- How do tokenised shares and synthetic tokens differ in terms of ownership rights?
- What role does the shareholder register play in each model?
- How do issuer-sponsored and third-party structures differ?
- What are the implications for issuers, governance, and shareholder visibility?