CurveBlock Becomes First Security Token Offering (STO) Accelerated by UK Commercial Bank

March 30, 2019

CurveBlock, a UK-based real estate development company powered by blockchain and security tokens has become the first STO to be warmly welcomed into an accelerator program held by one of the UK’s foremost commercial banks, NatWest.

Breakthrough

Notoriously, blockchain/cryptocurrency firms have had a significant uphill battle when it comes to cooperating with banks who, in many jurisdictions, often give such projects the cold shoulder. Budding blockchain enterprises in the UK are no strangers to this overly cautious sentiment held by the banking sector which, in turn, has gone some way to stifling the domestic blockchain industry.

That said, regulatory paradigms are shifting positively, and CurveBlock is delighted to announce its frontline position in what is a watershed moment for the industry at large.

CurveBlock is leveraging security tokens as means for any individual, anywhere, to invest in property development and gain returns upon project completion. It has taken some time, but the team at CurveBlock have endeavored to prioritize the quality and legitimacy of the project, which has now been acknowledged by NatWest.

Gary Woodhead, CurveBlock’s co-founder and CEO, commented on this development saying,

“Banks have always been the stumbling block at the early stages in real estate development. CurveBlock is removing banks from this choke point by being a fully liquid company that can take advantage of all opportunities, regardless of whether banks are loaning money or not. We are happy to partner with NatWest bank for the sales side of development.”

NatWest’s accelerator program provides entrepreneurs with a robust arsenal of tools, facilities and coaching to maximize the potential of a given business. For six months, CurveBlock will be accelerated by NatWest which won’t be taking any equity in return, as well as providing office space, one-to-one coaching, mentor access, legal advice and so on. This process can be undertaken up to three times for a maximum of 18 months.

With this, CurveBlock will also be introduced to hedge funds, angel investors, and other high-net-worth entities and organizations that collaborate with NatWest.

Setting the Standard

Being the first-ever blockchain security token to collaborate with a UK bank, CurveBlock is way ahead of the curve and shoulders the responsibility of setting a new standard for the UK blockchain/cryptocurrency ecosystem as it is now a representative of a nascent burgeoning industry.

CurveBlock is far more than a generic blockchain startup offering a “solution” to whatever problem it can apply the technology. Instead, it’s an education in financial freedom, social responsibility, and philanthropy. 

Offering his thoughts on the task CurveBlock has on its hands as a startup on the frontier, Woodhead says,

“I personally feel all early blockchain enterprises should set the bar as high as possible. The disruption of traditional markets needs quality, not quantity. Hopefully, setting a high standard will discourage poor projects from entering the blockchain space and damaging the reputation of this amazing industry, which we all witnessed during the 2017 bull market.”

Looking ahead, Gary Woodhead describes the journey as one that will have many challenges and hurdles, especially given that CurveBlock is “a product designed to disrupt the status quo.” Confidently, he concludes,

“With NatWest behind us, we can leverage their immense knowledge and expertise for the benefit of CurveBlock and its future.”