Digital Assets and Tokenisation in Jersey

Jersey’s digital assets proposition builds on decades of experience as an international finance centre, with established financial services sectors spanning funds, corporate services, private wealth and investment management.

These sectors have developed the governance frameworks, specialist expertise and operational capabilities needed to support sophisticated financial structures, including those involving digital assets and tokenisation.

Businesses can access an experienced network of legal, administration, fiduciary, compliance, custody and other specialist providers to support the structuring, operation and administration of digital asset activities.

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Jersey’s approach to institutional digital assets is underpinned by the legal and regulatory certainty expected of an established international finance centre, providing a credible environment in which businesses can develop well-governed propositions.

Our financial services regulator and registry, the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC), combines established regulatory standards with a practical and proportionate approach to evolving digital asset business models. Its framework provides clear regulatory pathways for firms exploring digital asset activity in Jersey, while maintaining Jersey’s high standards of governance, financial crime prevention and market integrity.

View the JFSC’s digital-assets guidance

Jersey’s connected financial services community brings together the Government, the regulator and industry, making it easier for businesses to access relevant expertise, engage with key stakeholders and navigate the practical, legal and regulatory considerations associated with digital asset activity.

Whatever stage you are at in exploring a proposition, we can help you navigate the next step. We can help you understand how Jersey could support your plans, connect you with relevant expertise and guide you towards the appropriate regulatory information or professional support.

Speak to our digital assets expert

For institutions considering the tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA), Jersey can support the structuring, issuance, governance and administration of these arrangements.

Jersey’s approach builds on established legal and regulatory frameworks and is supported by specific guidance relating to the tokenisation of real-world assets, providing a clear pathway and regulatory certainty for businesses exploring tokenisation opportunities.

This could include fund interests, equities and debt instruments, as well as interests backed by or linked to assets such as real estate, infrastructure and commodities.

You may be:

• An asset or fund manager exploring tokenisation as part of their product strategy
• An issuer or tokenisation platform considering where an issuing entity or structure should be established
• A bank or structuring team developing a tokenised product
• An adviser comparing jurisdictions for a client
• An existing Jersey client looking to extend an established structure on-chain

The JFSC has published specific guidance relating to the tokenisation of real-world assets in Jersey

I want to tokenise a real-world asset

I want to discuss whether Jersey could work for my proposition

Jersey also provides a route for businesses operating as virtual asset service providers (VASPs) within the wider digital asset value chain.

This may include activities such as custody, exchange, transfer and other virtual-asset services, subject to the applicable Jersey requirements.

For institutional businesses, this provides the opportunity to operate within an established international finance centre, supported by high standards of governance, substance and financial-services integrity.

I want to understand Jersey’s requirements for a VASP

Jersey can also provide structures through which digital assets may be issued, subject to the nature of the asset and the applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

I want to understand the initial coin or token offering pathway

Jersey’s established funds framework can support funds investing in or obtaining exposure to digital assets, with the appropriate regulatory route depending on the fund structure, offering, investor base, investment strategy and service-provider arrangements.

Exposure may be direct, through the holding of digital assets, or indirect through other funds, securities, derivatives or businesses connected with digital assets. Jersey’s existing fund structuring, governance, administration and professional-services expertise can therefore be applied to a range of digital asset investment strategies.

Where units or interests in a fund are also tokenised, the JFSC’s Tokenised Real-World Assets guidance applies alongside the relevant fund requirements.

I want to understand Jersey’s digital funds proposition

Talk to us about a funds or investment proposition

Read the JFSC’s guidance on the tokenisation of real-world assets

JFSC’s tokenisation guidance

Review the JFSC’s guidance for launching an initial coin or token offering and applicable pathway.

JFSC’s guidance on intial coin or token offerings

Understand the requirements applying to virtual asset service providers in Jersey.

JFSC’s VASP guidance

If you are a lawyer, compliance specialist, structuring team or other technically experienced user, you can go directly to the JFSC’s digital assets information.

JFSC digital asset guidance

Start with us.

Tell us briefly what you are trying to achieve and we can help identify the appropriate next step, whether that is regulatory information, a Jersey professional adviser or another part of Jersey’s financial-services ecosystem.

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If you already have a Jersey trustee, administrator, lawyer or other adviser, your existing Jersey adviser may be the natural starting point for developing your digital assets proposition.

If you are ready to explore the regulatory requirements for your proposition, you can go directly to the relevant JFSC information.

Understand what is possible

If you know the type of professional support you require, you can find Jersey firms with relevant digital assets expertise through our business directory.

Find specialist Jersey expertise

Talk to us. You do not need to work out the Jersey system or who you need to speak to before getting in touch.

Tell us what you are trying to structure, issue or establish and where you are in the process. We can help you identify the appropriate next step and connect you with relevant information and expertise.

Speak to our digtal assets expert