Key Highlights
- The New York Stock Exchange is launching a 24/7 trading platform for tokenized stocks and ETFs that will use blockchain technology for faster settlement and allow stablecoins for funding
- This launch will place the NYSE in direct competition with other global exchanges like Nasdaq in a race to dominate the booming tokenization of securities
- This move might also boost cryptocurrency markets by providing institutional liquidity for stablecoins
Till now, the sound of the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange has been one of the major iconic signals in the world of stock markets around the globe. But, recently, there was a huge announcement from the NYSE that grabbed many headlines.
NYSE Unveils Blueprint for a Digital Trading Floor
On January 19, the NYSE announced its plan to develop a new trading platform for tokenized securities. The New York Stock Exchange, which is operated by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), is building a separate platform dedicated to trading a tokenized form of U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
This announcement is mainly seen as a direct solution to the limitations of the old system. Unlike traditional market hours, the platform will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This new platform will use blockchain technology to open the door for “atomic settlement.” It means that trades could be finalized almost instantly instead of taking a long time.
Crucially, the platform plans to allow the use of USD-pegged stablecoins for funding accounts and settling trades. Behind the scenes, it would marry the NYSE’s Pillar matching engine with private, permissioned blockchain networks to handle post-trade processes.
“For more than two centuries, the NYSE has transformed the way markets operate,” Lynn Martin, President, NYSE Group, stated in the press release. “We are leading the industry toward fully on-chain solutions, grounded in the unmatched protections and high regulatory standards that position us to marry trust with state-of-the-art technology. Harnessing our expertise to reinvent market infrastructure is how we’ll meet and shape the demands of a digital future.”
“Since its founding, ICE has propelled markets from analog to digital,” said Michael Blaugrund, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, ICE. “Supporting tokenized securities is a pivotal step in ICE’s strategy to operate on-chain market infrastructure for trading, settlement, custody, and capital formation in the new era of global finance.”
NYSE Joins Global Race to Tokenize Assets
The NYSE is not the only contender that lately entered into a global competition. Its major competitor, Nasdaq, fired a major shot in September 2025. Nasdaq filed a formal rule change with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to allow trading of tokenized equities and ETFs directly on its main exchange. By doing so, Nasdaq plans to integrate these digital assets into its existing order books rather than developing another platform.
This boom is not limited to the U.S., as Europe is also integrating this blockchain-based innovation. Deutsche Börse Group, through its post-trade service provider Clearstream, launched a blockchain-based platform called D7 DLT in November 2025.
This platform will be built on Google Cloud, and it is designed for issuing tokenized bonds and other products. There is another mature project in Switzerland, where the SIX Group operates the SIX Digital Exchange. SDX is already a fully regulated market for tokenized bonds and shares.
The “Tokenize Everything” Boom and Impact on the Crypto Market
The adoption by traditional exchange is part of the latest trend of tokenization, which is also called “tokenization of everything.” The concept involves representing ownership of real-world assets as digital tokens on a blockchain, such as treasury bonds, real estate, or corporate debt.
According to Samir Kerbage, CIO at Hashdex, the total value of these tokenized real-world assets is growing, with some estimates pointing toward a $400 billion market by the end of 2026.
NYSE is rapidly advancing its integration with digital asset innovation. First, by using stablecoins for settlements, the platform would inject enormous and genuine institutional liquidity into USD-based digital currencies. This will boost their utility as well as adoption.
Apart from this, this integration is also seen as a major validation of blockchain’s main technology. If the world’s largest stock exchanges use it, the underlying promise of crypto is legitimized.
Most importantly, it could create a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem. This bridge would accelerate the growth of tokenized real-world assets, bringing new forms of collateral and investment products on-chain. The inflow of this institutional capital and trust could be the single largest catalyst for the next phase of the crypto market rise.
Tokenization Faces Regulatory Hurdles
Amid the boom in tokenization, this blockchain-based innovation might face regulatory challenges and criticism. The World Federation of Exchanges, a global industry group for exchanges and clearinghouses, has been a popular critic.
In letters to regulators, including the SEC and the European Securities and Markets Authority, in August and November 2025, the WFE argued that tokenized stocks traded on crypto platforms are often mimics that may not grant investors the same legal rights and protections.
Nandini Sukumar, CEO of the WFE, stated in the letter, “The WFE supports innovation, particularly when done based on exchange-traded products. However, these mimicked products do not meet the high standards which investors are used to. What we are seeing is a blatant attempt to circumvent regulation, with some firms seeking “no action” relief from regulators or deliberately operating through legal grey areas.
“Most concerning is the risk to retail investors, who may be misled into believing they hold the same rights and protections as traditional shareholders. In many cases, they do not. Investor protection must remain paramount, and regulation must evolve to ensure that new technologies are not used as a mask for risk and opacity,” she said.
Conclusion
The NYSE is clearly sending signals to the financial world that it is planning to adopt new financial innovations and connect the worlds of traditional finance and cryptocurrency. This also shows that Wall Street’s main players are building new infrastructure designed for a digital asset future.
For the cryptocurrency market, this could provide much-needed legitimacy and open doors for liquidity from the mainstream market.
Also Read: 2016 vs 2026: A Look at How Bitcoin Changed
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