FAQs
Q: What is the BITNET? A: The BITNET is XFT's all-to-all blockchain trading system home to 20000+ tokenized securities across all asset classes.
Q: Why BITNET? A: Programmatic multi-asset composability. Offline digital payments. Use stocks, bonds, real estate to buy groceries.
BITNET improves:
Operational risk mitigation through standardization and automation
Intraday liquidity
Post-trade FX matching and netting processes
BITNET reduces:
Funding and number of payments required
Inconsistent FX matching and FX netting
Credit consumption
Intraday overdraft costs and correspondent bank charges
Communication required to confirm positions pre-settlement
Q: What is the International Deposits Network? A: The International Deposits Network (IDN) is XFT's RTGS payment system for tokenized commercial bank deposits. It is used to put onchain tokenized products into traditional offchain bank accounts. Send cross-border real-time payments using IDN blockchain deposit accounts.
Q: What is XFT Token Service? A: XFT Token Service generates TANs for legacy and blockchain payment rail interoperability. This means users can send stablecoins to a wallet using, for example, the associated ABA RTN. It is also used for onchain bank account creation.
Q: What is Bitstream? A: Bitstream is the central securities depository arm of The XFT Group.
Q: What is the Direct Registration System (DRS)? A: DRS allows registered shares to be held in electronic form without having a physical security certificate issued as evidence of ownership.
Q: How are my securities protected if I choose street name ownership? A: Nearly all broker-dealers are members of Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”). SIPC protects customers of a SIPC member broker-dealer against the loss of securities and cash deposited with that SIPC member for the purchase of securities. If that SIPC-member broker-dealer fails, SIPC advances up to $500,000 per customer (including a $250,000 limit for cash claims) to cover a shortfall in customer property. Many broker-dealers also carry insurance in excess of SIPC’s coverage. However, SIPC does not protect you against losses caused by a decline in the market value of your securities. For more information about SIPC coverage, please read the SEC’s Investor Bulletins “SIPC Basics Parts 1 and 2” and the SEC’s glossary term on “SIPC protection".
Q: What is a medallion guarantee? A: Medallion Guarantee is a special stamp that’s used when you sell or transfer US securities. It confirms that the signature authorizing the sale or transfer is genuine and that the signer has the legal capacity and authority to sign the document.
Why blockchain DRS?
FOR INVESTORS:
Registered legal ownership: DRS records the investor’s name on the issuer’s books, clarifying legal ownership and simplifying some ownership disputes.
Direct proxy and voting communications: Registered owners typically receive proxy materials and can vote directly with the issuer, improving participation in corporate governance.
Reduced share lending risk: Shares in DRS are generally not available for broker lending, which reduces the chance that your shares will be loaned out into short positions.
Protection from broker account actions: Because holdings are off the broker’s books, certain broker-level events (e.g., broker insolvency, margin liquidation) may have different operational implications for DRS-registered shares.
Direct receipt of issuer communications and corporate action processing: Transfer agents send notices and process corporate actions for registered owners.
FOR ISSUERS/CORPORATES:
Clearer shareholder records: Direct registration gives issuers an accurate list of registered owners, which aids governance, mailings, and engagement.
Improved governance and communication: With direct registration, issuers can target shareholder outreach and ensure delivery of proxy materials.
Potential reduction in abusive shorting/over-lending: A higher proportion of shares registered directly may reduce shares available for lending, potentially lowering mismatch between outstanding shares and borrowable supply.
Issuer Benefits
Access a new, broader global investor base
Reduce financing costs and retain more proceeds
Control timing and parameters of share issuance
Receive stablecoin proceeds instantly at settlement
Investor Benefits
Buy newly issued shares straight from the company
Access pricing below Nasdaq or NYSE markets
Receive tokenized shares with instant settlement
Full economic and governance rights and additional onchain utility over time
Why blockchain DRS for investors?
Registered legal ownership: DRS records the investor’s name on the issuer’s books, clarifying legal ownership and simplifying some ownership disputes.
Direct proxy and voting communications: Registered owners typically receive proxy materials and can vote directly with the issuer, improving participation in corporate governance.
Reduced share lending risk: Shares in DRS are generally not available for broker lending, which reduces the chance that your shares will be loaned out into short positions.
Protection from broker account actions: Because holdings are off the broker’s books, certain broker-level events (e.g., broker insolvency, margin liquidation) may have different operational implications for DRS-registered shares.
Direct receipt of issuer communications and corporate action processing: Transfer agents send notices and process corporate actions for registered owners.
Why blockchain DRS for issuers/corporates?
Clearer shareholder records: Direct registration gives issuers an accurate list of registered owners, which aids governance, mailings, and engagement.
Improved governance and communication: With direct registration, issuers can target shareholder outreach and ensure delivery of proxy materials.
Potential reduction in abusive shorting/over-lending: A higher proportion of shares registered directly may reduce shares available for lending, potentially lowering mismatch between outstanding shares and borrowable supply.
Definitions, acronyms, and abbreviations
SSI = Standing Settlement Instruction
SI = Settlement Instruction
Cash in lieu is a de facto sale of a stock.
a sampling index fund
heartbeat trades
rebalance drag
tax drag
tracking error
full replication
synthetic replication
total return swap
bona fide market making
Continuous Net Settlement (CNS)
Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS)
sub m
reg sho
create-to-lend
failure to deliever
contra side
reverse conversions
FLEX option
hard-to-borrow
threshold securities
married put
Primary market: the market that deals with the issuance of new securities
Secondary market: where investors purchase securities/ETFs from other investors
Continuous net settlement (CNS) Method of securities clearing and settlement using a clearing house, which matches transactions to securities available, resulting in one net receive or deliver position at the end of the day.
Authorized participants: Large institutions that transact directly with the ETF provider to create or redeem shares of an ETF.
Creation unit: The minimum number of ETF shares required to transact directly with the ETF issuer.
Primary market: The direct exchange of securities for shares of an ETF between authorized participants and ETF issuers.
Secondary market: The national markets system (e.g., the stock exchanges and other venues where listed securities can be traded). Shares of ETFs are continuously bought and sold throughout the day on an exchange or other trading venue by investors.
CORPORATE ACTIONS
Cash dividend on equities / preference shares
Stock dividend on equities
Interest on bonds / fixed income securities
Redemption of bonds / fixed income securities either on Call / maturity date
Exercise of rights / warrants associated with securities
CORPORATE ACTIONS
Stock Splits Cash Dividend Stock Dividend Interest on Fixed Income Securities Redemption on Fixed Income Securities Rights / Warrants Stock Splits Mergers and Spin-offs
RESOURCES
https://www.bitget.com/wiki/what-is-drs-in-stocks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearing_House_Electronic_Subregister_System
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