Initiative aims to modernize capital markets by enabling blockchain-based issuance and trading
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE), has announced plans to develop a new digital platform designed to support the trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities, subject to regulatory approvals. The initiative represents a significant step in the evolution of market infrastructure, combining traditional exchange reliability with blockchain-enabled innovation.
The proposed platform will enable 24/7 trading of U.S.-listed equities and ETFs, support fractional share trading, and offer near-instant settlement through tokenized capital. Investors will be able to place orders in dollar-denominated amounts and fund trades using stablecoins, enhancing accessibility and efficiency across global markets.
Built on the NYSE’s Pillar matching engine, the platform will integrate blockchain-based post-trade systems capable of supporting multiple settlement and custody chains. It is designed to power a new NYSE trading venue that accommodates both tokenized versions of traditionally issued securities and digital-native securities. Tokenized shareholders will retain the same economic and governance rights as traditional shareholders, including dividends and voting rights.
The venue will operate in line with established market structure principles and will provide non-discriminatory access to all qualified broker-dealers. ICE is also preparing its clearing infrastructure to support continuous, 24/7 trading and the potential use of tokenized collateral.
As part of this broader digital strategy, ICE is collaborating with major financial institutions, including BNY and Citi, to enable tokenized deposits across its clearinghouses. These efforts aim to help clearing members manage liquidity, meet margin requirements, and move capital outside traditional banking hours across multiple jurisdictions and time zones.
NYSE Group President Lynn Martin emphasized that the initiative reflects the exchange’s long-standing role in market transformation, noting that the move toward on-chain solutions is grounded in the NYSE’s high regulatory standards and commitment to investor protection.
Michael Blaugrund, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at ICE, added that supporting tokenized securities is a pivotal step in ICE’s mission to operate fully on-chain market infrastructure spanning trading, settlement, custody, and capital formation.
With more than 25 years of innovation and a global network of clearinghouses, ICE continues to position itself at the forefront of the transition from traditional financial systems to a digitally native, always-on global market ecosystem.
About Intercontinental Exchange
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.(NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds, and operates digital networks that connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes helping our customers access mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and efficiency. ICE’s futures, equity, and options exchanges — including the New York Stock Exchange — and clearing houses help people invest, raise capital and manage risk. We offer some of the world’s largest markets to trade and clear energy and environmental products. Our fixed income, data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers streamline processes and capitalize on opportunities. At ICE Mortgage Technology, we are transforming U.S. housing finance, from initial consumer engagement through loan production, closing, registration and the long-term servicing relationship. Together, ICE transforms, streamlines, and automates industries to connect our customers to opportunity.
Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading “Key Information Documents (KIDS).”
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 — Statements in this press release regarding ICE’s business that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on February 6, 2025.
