ERC-1400

ERC-1400 is a suite of Ethereum standards for security tokens, proposed in 2018 as one of the first serious attempts to represent a regulated investment on-chain. It extends the basic token model with the features a security needs: the ability to restrict transfers, attach documents, and divide a holder's balance into categories. It is a family of related proposals (including ERC-1410 and ERC-1594) rather than a single interface.

Two ideas stand out. First, partitions (or "tranches"): a single holder's balance can be split into buckets - for example restricted versus freely transferable shares, or different share classes - each carrying its own rules. Second, a canTransfer check: before a transfer runs, the contract can test it against compliance logic and return a reason code if it is not allowed, so a blocked trade fails with an explanation rather than silently.

ERC-1400 remains compatible with ERC-20 balances, and it formalizes the pattern of enforcing a transfer restriction in the token and linking to off-chain legal documents such as a prospectus or subscription agreement.

Where it differs from ERC-3643 is the approach to identity. ERC-1400 defines the restriction hooks but leaves the identity and eligibility system to the implementer, whereas ERC-3643 specifies verified on-chain identity as a core part of the standard. In practice, teams choose ERC-1400 for its flexible partition model and document handling, and ERC-3643 when they want identity-based compliance built in.

For an RWA builder, ERC-1400 is part of the toolbox for issuing a token standard that a regulator and transfer agent can work with, rather than a plain fungible token.

Source: Ethereum Improvement Proposals (eips.ethereum.org), as of 2026.