How to Launch a Security Token Offering (STO) in the EU: Step-by-Step Guide

Launching a Security Token Offering (STO) in the European Union has become one of the most strategic ways to raise capital in a compliant and future-ready manner. With strong regulatory momentum and maturing blockchain infrastructure, the EU provides a solid foundation for digital securities, if you know how to navigate the process.

In this post, we provide a clear, step-by-step guide for startups, SMEs, and financial institutions preparing to launch an STO, and show how ONINO helps simplify and accelerate every stage.

Step 1: Prepare Your STO Legally and Strategically

Before launching your STO, it's crucial to:

• Define your objectives: Are you raising for equity, debt, or revenue share?
• Choose the right jurisdiction: Germany, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg are popular for security token offerings in the EU.
• Engage legal advisors: You’ll need to determine whether your STO requires a prospectus, falls under exemptions, or qualifies for a regulatory sandbox.
• Understand applicable regulations: The EU's MiFID II, eWpG (in Germany), and the upcoming MiCA framework are central to structuring compliant offerings.

Step 2: Choose a Tokenization Platform

Many projects stall in this phase due to technical complexity. With ONINO, you avoid that by using a compliant, no-code STO platform that streamlines:

• Smart contract creation
• Investor onboarding (KYC/AML)
• Legal documentation workflows
• Token distribution and cap table management

ONINO reduces the friction of launching your STO so you can focus on fundraising and community engagement.

Step 3: Structure the Token Offering

Your token must reflect the type of instrument you’re offering. Common STO formats include:

• Equity tokens: Digital shares in a company with dividend or voting rights
• Debt tokens: Bonds or loans with interest and maturity terms
• Convertible tokens: Notes that convert to equity upon predefined triggers
• Revenue-share tokens: Smart contracts that distribute income proportionally

With ONINO’s platform, you can choose from standardized templates or create custom economic structures.

Step 4: Set Up Investor Onboarding

Investor onboarding is one of the most important compliance steps in the process. ONINO supports:

• KYC/AML automation to verify investors
• Accreditation checks for restricted jurisdictions
• Whitelisting of wallets before token distribution
• E-signature integration for required investment agreements

These features ensure that your STO operates within regulatory guardrails from day one.

Step 5: Launch and Market Your Token Sale

Once you’re ready, use ONINO’s platform to launch your token sale with:

• A white-labeled investment portal for your brand
• Support for fiat and crypto payments
• Automated distribution of tokens and investment receipts
• Investor dashboards with real-time insights

Leverage digital marketing, investor relations, and community outreach to promote the offering. ONINO’s infrastructure supports secure, scalable growth.

Step 6: Post-STO Operations and Liquidity

After the STO, managing investor relations and providing liquidity is key. ONINO enables:

• Token transfer restrictions (e.g. lock-ups, jurisdictions)
• Automated dividend or interest payouts
• Secondary market trading via ONINO’s Tier 2 marketplace

This ensures that investors remain engaged and that your company maintains transparency and regulatory compliance.

How ONINO Helps You Launch a Compliant STO

ONINO is a full-stack STO platform built to support:

• Compliant token issuance and investor onboarding
• Legal and jurisdictional customization
• Lifecycle management from issuance to trading
• Scalable infrastructure including sub-chain deployment

Whether you're a fintech startup or a mid-size company, ONINO gives you the tools to launch a digital securities offering with confidence.

Ready to launch your STO? Schedule a demo with ONINO and let our experts guide you through a successful security token offering.

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