What Are the Regulatory Implications of Valuing a Token as a Security?
If a token is valued as a security, it must comply with strict securities laws, including registration, disclosure requirements, and restrictions on who can trade it (e.g. only accredited investors). Non-compliance can lead to severe penalties and legal action, fundamentally impairing the project's viability and value.
This compliance overhead adds significant operational cost and limits the potential market size, which must be factored into the DCF and risk premium.