Messari Opens Disclosure Registry for Crypto Projects

Messari is launching a disclosure registry for crypto projects to better inform investors.

AccessTimeIconNov 27, 2018 at 1:59 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 13, 2021 at 8:37 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Messari, an open-source cryptocurrency-focused version of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR database, is launching a disclosure registry for token-issuing projects to publicly share information that might otherwise be difficult to find.

The registry, announced Tuesday at CoinDesk's Consensus: Invest event, will share a range of typically non-public information, including token design, supply details, any audits of the technology, official communication channels, treasury management and details of team members.

Messari founder Ryan Selkis told CoinDesk that the platform is aimed at both standardizing and automating such information disclosures, making it easier for investors or casual observers to learn more about projects of interest.

"What we’re trying to do is make key information about these various crypto assets available to anyone, whether it’s a retail investor, a regulator, an academic or a mutual fund," he said, adding:

"The most important thing for us is ushering in an era where that is the standard, versus today’s standard which is driven by information asymmetry and insiders, where the last person to know about a change to [a project] is a casual observer."

"The key liquidity providers around the ecosystem must abide by a certain set of principles and a code of conduct [regarding] disclosures," Selkis said.

However, this should be carried out on an "opt-in basis," he said, as crypto tokens aren’t publicly traded securities. "So, we’re starting from the ground up and looking at what will protect consumers and what makes sense from a regulatory standpoint," he explained.

At launch, crypto startups Aion, Blockstack, Civic, Decent, District0x, IDEX, Mainframe, Melonport, Metronome, Ocean Protocol, Tierion and Zilliqa will appear on the registry. Another 20 companies are currently in the queue to be added, Selkis said.

In its initial stages, the Messari team will be walking projects through their applications, but the ultimate goal is to decentralize the platform. At that point, a community vote will determine whether a project is added to the registry or not. Anyone can apply to be listed on the registry by contacting the company.

Data on the registry will be publicly available, and Messari will even have an API for companies interested in utilizing the information provided.

It's worth noting that a project's assets will not be verified on the platform. In other words, while, say, the Ethereum Foundation or the Zerocoin Electric Coin Company may be verified as maintainers for ethereum and zcash, the tokens themselves will not see the same checks.

Messari CEO Ryan Selkis via Consensus

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.