At Ctrl Alt we Champion Transparency

General FAQs

What is Ctrl Alt?

Ctrl Alt is an alternative asset solutions provider offering a flexible range of products for investment platforms and fintechs as well as asset owners seeking alternative financing to raise capital.

When Did Ctrl Alt Start?

We were founded in 2020 and have spent the last couple of years developing our regulatory framework and structure alongside our technology. Our platform launched in Q4 2022.

Where is Ctrl Alt based?

Ctrl Alt's team is based in London and Dundalk, Ireland.

How Is Ctrl Alt Unique?

Ctrl Alt brings a new arm of investing by blending industry expertise in alternative assets with financial technology.

What are the risks involved with alternative asset investing?

As with all investing, returns are not guraranted, alternative assets come with their own risks.

How does fractional investing in alternative assets work?

Typically, if you wanted to invest in alternative assets, investors would have to purchase the whole asset or an entire investment proposal. But, with fractional investing, you can buy a portion of an asset. A fractional share is a simply a portion of the whole share, sold at a fraction of the share price.

Security FAQs

Who Owns The Asset?

The assets are owned by a legal entity (company) and you as an investor own part of that legal entity. Ctrl Alt arranges the formation of the legal entity with the help of lawyers.

Is It Safe?

Investing in alternative assets comes with risks and for each asset we list on our platform, we describe what those risks are and what the risk profile is. While the asset itself carries inherent risks, we’ve built an operationally safe and secure platform. For example, funds are collected and held in a regulated UK escrow account, away from Ctrl Alt.

What If Something Happens To Ctrl Alt?

The assets are owned by the investors/users of the platform via a company separate to Ctrl Alt that they are shareholders in. Therefore, if anything happens to Ctrl Alt your investment is segregated, we have no claim to the assets. As Ctrl Alt is involved in the operational element, we will arrange for the assets to be sold and any funds owed returned to you if Ctrl Alt were to stop operations.

Does Ctrl Alt Have Permissions To Operate?

Yes. Ctrl Alt carries out activities which are required to be regulated in the UK. Ctrl Alt (FRN: 974321) is an Appointed Representative of Infinity Asset Management LLP (FRN: 464315), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

How Do I Know The Assets Are Genuine?

We work with asset partners who are well established in their respective fields. They validate that the assets are genuine and have relevant paperwork where required.

Investing FAQs

How are the assets valued?

Assets are independently valued. Your customers portfolio will then update with an estimated valuation, they can see further details within their portfolio tab.

How can my customers pay?

We take payment via Open Banking where you deposit funds in GBP.

How do investors get their money back?

Alternative assets are often by nature illiquid and are most suitable for longer term investment horizons. Ctrl Alt allows investors to vote on when they want to sell the underlying asset. If the majority want to sell then the asset is sold and the proceeds of the sale are distributed back to investors.

In which currency will investments
be made?

We currently allow investments to be made in GBP and will add support for other currencies in the future.

Who manages the alternative
assets offered on Ctrl Alt's platform?

Assets are managed by expert partners. Ctrl Alt facilitates that purchase and the investor updates on the asset.

In what ways do alternative
assets offered on Ctrl Alt's
platform have limited liquidity?

Alternative assets are often by nature illiquid are most suitable for longer term investment horizons. Ctrl Alt allows investors to vote on when they want to sell the underlying asset. If the majority want to sell then the asset is sold and the proceeds of the sale are distributed back to investors.

Are investments on the platform insured?

For details of any specific investments, your customers will need to check the investment overview produced. Insurance cover may vary per product.

How are investments structured on
the Ctrl Alt platform?

Investors are issued with digital shares in a company that owns the underlying investment assets. This gives investors legal claim to the asset.

What is the maximum that my
customers can invest via Ctrl Alt?

This depends on how the deal is structured. For example, for FinTech client's customers, the maximum ownership for one individual is 20%. If you're looking to explore one of Ctrl Alt's solutions and want to find out more about investment terms, please reach out to us via info@ctrl-alt.co.

Technology FAQs

What Is A Wallet?

A wallet is essentially an account on the blockchain where you can store your tokens. We allow users to create their own wallet in our app or import their own. You can transfer the tokens out of the wallet. Only you have access to the wallet, so keep the passphrase secure.

Why Do You Use Blockchain?

Blockchain is what allows us to operate a platform like this. Previously it would have been too operationally heavy and costly but blockchain alleviates those problems and allows us to pass the cost benefits onto you.

Glossary FAQs

Algorand

Algorand is the blockchain that Ctrl Alt is built on. The tokens (digital shares) that represent your investment are issued and recorded on the Algorand blockchain.

Algorand Standard Asset

The name given to digital assets issued on the Algorand blockchain.

Asset Class

A group of investments that exhibit similar characteristics. For example equities (stocks & shares) or currencies.

Blockchain

A digital record book or 'ledger' that is used to verify existence, ownership and the history of all kinds of data. Ctrl Alt uses this technology to record ownership of the tokens and facilitate transfers in a secure way.

It is called Blockchain because they store records in 'blocks' that are linked together using cryptography. This helps to keep the records secure.

Crowdfunding

The process of raising money from a large number of people who want to contribute to a particular project or investment opportunity. The project or investment only goes ahead once a certain amount has been raised.

Cryptocurrency

A digital currency that is used to pay transaction fees on a blockchain. It is rewarded to validators on a blockchain in exchange for correctly validating network transactions.

There are many different types of cryptocurrencies, each relating to a different blockchain. ALGO is the native cryptocurrency of the Algorand blockchain. Like traditional or fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies are also an asset class that investors purchase to speculate on how the price will change.

Cryptography

A method of transforming data in order to keep it secure.

Exchange Token

Tokens that are designed to be used as a means of exchange. They are used to buy and sell goods. Cryptocurrencies are exchange tokens.

Fiat Currency

Government issued currency not backed by a physical commodity like gold. For example US Dollars or British Pounds.

Issuance

The process of distributing tokens to investors.

Investment Overview

A document that outlines the potential risks and provides the nessecary background to the investment. As the name suggests, it has key bits of information for you to view.

Listing

The process of adding a new asset to our platform for investors to access.

NFT

A Non-Fungible Token is a type of digital asset that is not fungible or equivalent to another asset. Tokens on the Ctrl Alt platform are not NFTs.

Passphrase

A 12-word secret phrase that gives you access to your wallet. Only you have this passphrase and it should not be shared.

Portfolio

A summary of your investments and where you can vote to hold or sell the underyling asset.

Private Key

Similar to a password, it is a string of letters and numbers that allows you to access your tokens. It is private because only you have access to it.

Self Custody Wallet

A type of wallet that only you as the wallet owner have access to. Think of it like a safe that you own and only you have the key for.

Shares

Units of ownership in a company. As a holder of a share you own part of the company and the assets it holds.

Smart Contract

A piece of code that executes certain actions once a set of conditions have been met. At Ctrl Alt we use smart contracts to release tokens to investors only once the total amount for the asset has been raised.

Subscribe

The process of committing to buying a particular token.

Subscription Agreement

A document that outlines the investment and its terms. Upon agreeing to the subscription agreement you are committing to the investment.

Subscription Window

The time period in which you can sign up to buy a particular token.

Token

A digital unit that represents an asset. On the Ctrl Alt platform, the tokens represent shares.

Utility Token

Tokens that grant holders access to a current or prospective product/service but don't provide the same legal rights as shares, bonds etc. An example could be tokens in an online game that enables you to purchase products or services in that game.

Validator

Computers that are responsible for securing the network. They confirm the validity of new transations added to the ledger/records.

Voting Rights

The right to decide what happens to the underlying asset, for example the property. The more tokens you hold, the more voting power you have as an investor.

Wallet

A place to store and manage your digital assets and tokens. Think of it like a digital version of a safe that has all the keys to your assets.

Wallet Address

A string of letters and numbers which is used to identify your wallet. Used when you want to send tokens to and from your wallet.

Yield

A measure of return on your investment. For example if you invest £100 in something that yields 10%, you will receive £10. **For illustrative purposes.