Announcing the Indefinite Coin Repurchase (ICR)
In 2014 I introduced the ICO to the cryptocurrency space (for Karmacoin). Today, I bring you the ICR.
What is an Indefinite Coin Repurchase?An Indefinite Coin Repurchase (ICR) is a strategic program that token enterprises can use to reward those who already own tokens. Whereas tokens are purchased directly from an enterprise at a fixed price in an initial coin offering (ICO) in hopes of future gains, in an ICR the enterprise uses its profits to buy tokens back from token holders, rewarding them in the present.
While profits from an enterprise cannot legally be distributed to token-holders in the form of dividends in the US, per securities regulations, those same profits can be used to benefit token holders in other ways. The way that most benefits token holders may be an ICR.
With an ICR, a significant portion of profits - or even
all profits - from the business will be used to buy back tokens from token holders either from exchanges or by allowing holders to tender their tokens directly to the enterprise at a fixed price, a kind of reverse-ICO.
What are the Benefits?An ICR would reduce the number of tokens in circulation, potentially elevating the market value of remaining tokens held by the public. It will also prevent the enterprise from hoarding cash and cryptocurrency, an ongoing problem with ICO companies.
Also, whereas an ICO can only be done once, there is no limit to the number of ICRs that can be done for a token.
Why is it "Indefinite"?To help mitigate market manipulation, the number of tokens that will be bought back and the amount that will be spent to buy those tokens will only be announced after the fact. However, when an ICR is announced for a token the timeframe for the repurchase should be announced as well. To voluntarily comply with SEC guidelines regarding stock repurchases (if the same was applied to tokens), tokens would be purchased from a single exchange during a single day.
There are some potential legal issues with ICOs. Could there be issues with ICRs?Companies that issue shares may already have ongoing share repurchase programs, which is perfectly legal. SEC rule 10b-18 provides guidelines for share repurchases so companies will not be deemed to have violated anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if the repurchases fall within the four conditions of the rule (manner of purchase, timing, price, and volume considerations).