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Crowdfunding / crowdinvesting / crowdlending
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FinTechs belonging to this category operate crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending platforms on which money is raised to invest in various projects, mainly start-up companies and real estate projects.

Crowdfunding is not a defined financial service, but generally used to describe donation-based crowdfunding (the investor donates the money to the project), reward-based crowdfunding (the investor receives an often symbolic consideration for his investment), equity-based crowdfunding (crowdinvesting: the investor participates in the profits of the financed project or acquires shares or debt instruments) or lending-based crowdfunding (crowdlending: the investor is reimbursed at the end of the project with or without interest).

Introduction

Attitude of the country towards crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending platforms

The social climate towards crowdfunding, and especially donation-based crowdfunding, is friendly thanks in large part to an organisation that acts in a similar manner to a donation-based crowdfunding platform in the sense that it receives and channels donations to those in need, although not through a FinTech platform in the sense that it has not built an in-house technological platform but simply acts through online presence and legacy banking solutions. This organization has helped channel DOP 20 million (approx. USD 350k) from over 11,000 donors to 300 charitable causes.

The regulatory authorities have been silent about crowdfunding platforms of all kinds in the Dominican Republic. The Superintendency for Securities Markets has issued warnings to investors concerning fraudulent schemes without mentioning crowdfunding schemes. 

Legal affairs

Obligations and requirements to provide crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending platforms described above

The Dominican Republic does not have a bespoke regulatory framework for crowdfunding platforms of any kind. However, some crowdfunding models fit into the previously established framework for traditional operations.

Specifically, offerings made by equity-based or reward-based crowdfunding may fit into the definition of public security offerings, which require a registration of both the issuer and the security offering in the Registry for the Securities Markets, at a cost of approximately USD 1,000.

Additional comments regarding the legal situation for crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending platforms or what FinTech’s must be aware of in this business area

It's important for crowdfunding/lending platform operators to have a sense of when their activities run the risk of being considered financial intermediation, securities intermediation or public security offerings; so that they may design their platforms in a way that minimizes this risk or obtain the required registration.

Economic conditions

Market size for crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending platforms and biggest companies in this business area

Statista estimates a market size of USD 13.23 million for 2022.

Additional comments regarding the economic situation for crowdfunding, crowdinvesting and crowdlending platforms or what FinTech’s must be aware of in this business area

N/A

Authors

NameOrganisationEmail
Michelle Abreu VargasOMG[email protected]06517
Manuel Troncoso HernándezOMG[email protected]06517
Aldana Fernández MartínezOMG[email protected]06517
Diego García MelendezOMG[email protected]06517
Alejandro LamaOMG[email protected]06517

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