KUALA LUMPUR (March 23): The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has registered two initial exchange offering (IEO) operators to promote responsible innovation in the digital space.

The two IEO operators are Kapital DX Sdn Bhd and Pitch Platforms Sdn Bhd, according to the SC's statement on Wednesday (March 23).

The registered IEO operators will provide an alternative avenue for eligible companies to raise funds via the issuance of digital tokens in Malaysia, said the regulator.

An issuer may raise funds up to RM100 million from retail, sophisticated, as well as angel investors, subject to the investment limits provided in the SC's Guidelines on Digital Assets.

The SC said these new operators will be required to carry out the necessary assessments, among others, to verify the issuer's digital value proposition, review the issuer's proposal and disclosures in its whitepaper, and undertake a comprehensive due diligence on the issuer and its token offering, prior to hosting the issuer's digital token on their platform.

"In addition, they will be given up to nine months to comply with all the regulatory requirements before commencing operations, and these include putting in place a robust and effective Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) process to mitigate Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (ML/TF) risks," it explained.

Furthermore, the SC reminded members of the public that they are not permitted to offer, issue or distribute any digital assets — which have been prescribed as securities in Malaysia — without obtaining a registration or authorisation from the SC.

"In this regard, a person convicted may be liable to a fine not exceeding RM10 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.

"Members of the public are also advised to be mindful of the risks related to investing in digital assets, including risks of investing on platforms not registered with the SC," it added.