Nacionsushi seeks US$2.5 million through tokenised investment

Nacionsushi Argentina has launched an investment scheme starting at US$100 to fund its local growth without requiring participants to become involved in day-to-day operations. The international pan-Asian restaurant chain aims to raise US$2.5 million through tokenised interests administered by Malbec Capital Market. Its plans include two openings in 2027, adding another funding option to discussions within the franchising community.

One restaurant trading and two openings planned

According to a report published by EBiZ Latam on 25 October, Nacionsushi’s first restaurant in Argentina, in the Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, is already trading and generated turnover of around US$50,000 in its first month. That site provides the operating base for a proposal designed to attract capital to expand the brand’s presence in the country.

The plan includes two additional restaurants in 2027. With those openings, the company estimates that the network could achieve combined monthly turnover of between US$200,000 and US$250,000. This is a business projection based on planned growth, not revenue already generated by the future sites.

That estimate should also be distinguished from the fundraising target: US$2.5 million is the capital Nacionsushi aims to raise for its expansion. First-month turnover, projected network sales and funds raised describe different aspects of the project and do not represent the return an individual investor might receive.

Investing in the network, not a single restaurant

The defining feature of the proposal is the scope of the financial interest. Investors do not buy a stake in a particular restaurant; instead, their returns are linked to the network as a whole, encompassing the existing restaurant, planned openings and future growth in Argentina.

Tokenisation allows economic rights to be represented digitally and divided into smaller investment units. In this case, the advertised minimum investment is US$100, with the interests administered by Malbec Capital Market. That amount is the entry point for the investment scheme, not the cost of opening a restaurant under the brand.

This distinction matters for anyone assessing opportunities in franchising. Investing in a network without managing its restaurants is not the same as taking responsibility for opening and running a site. Nacionsushi’s proposal is specifically aimed at people who want to invest in the restaurant business without becoming its day-to-day operators.

More options for passive investment

The initiative is part of an emerging range of proposals that their promoters describe as ‘passive franchises’. Their common feature is the separation of financial participation from day-to-day management: investors provide capital but do not take charge of running the establishment.

As an Argentine precedent, EBiZ Latam cites Grupo MIZ Juegos, the operator of Jobs, El Destello and Flynn’s. The company developed a scheme allowing investors to acquire a financial interest in a venue for a minimum investment of US$8,000, while retaining responsibility for its management.

Although both proposals allow investment without day-to-day involvement, their stated scope differs. With Grupo MIZ Juegos, the investment is linked to one venue; with Nacionsushi, it covers the entire network in Argentina. Comparing only the minimum investment amounts would therefore overlook a fundamental difference in the underlying business behind each interest.

What to check before investing

For prospective investors, the first step is to establish which economic rights they are acquiring and how any returns due to them are calculated. It is also worth requesting information on costs, distribution terms, timescales and exit options. A digital investment format is no substitute for reading the contractual terms.

Where a proposal combines an operating restaurant with future openings, it is particularly useful to separate existing results from expectations for expansion. Turnover should not be confused with profit or with funds available for distribution to investors.

The practical takeaway: before comparing this option with a franchise you would operate yourself, decide whether you want to run a business or provide capital. Then assess the specific rights, obligations and risks attached to the investment, rather than focusing solely on the entry amount.