NYSE Moves Toward 24/7 Markets With Tokenized Stocks on Blockchain

• NYSE plans 24/7 tokenized stock trading with on-chain settlement if approved.
• Platform allows dollar-based orders, stablecoin funding, and instant settlement.
• ICE aims to modernize clearing with banks for nonstop tokenized market activity.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), is preparing a major shift in how U.S. stocks could trade in the future, with plans for a platform that supports 24/7 tokenized share trading and on-chain settlement.

NYSE said the project aims to combine the reliability of traditional market infrastructure with the speed and flexibility of blockchain rails. If regulators approve the model, it could extend stock access beyond standard trading hours and reshape how investors fund and settle transactions across time zones.

NYSE Targets Always-On Trading With Tokenized Shares

NYSE said the platform will support tokenized securities that track regular shares and settle on-chain. It will also support assets issued directly as digital securities. 

Consequently, the exchange expects investors to trade at any hour, with settlement happening almost instantly. The platform will also allow orders to be sized in dollars instead of shares. Additionally, NYSE plans to support stablecoin-based funding to make the movement of capital more efficient.

The exchange said tokenized shareholders will still receive dividends and governance rights. Hence, NYSE aims to keep token trading aligned with the same economic ownership as traditional stockholding. 

The company also wants broad distribution through qualified broker-dealers. Moreover, it said access will follow non-discriminatory standards under established market structure principles.

Blockchain Settlement Meets NYSE’s Core Trading Engine

NYSE built the design around its Pillar matching engine, which already powers core exchange operations. However, it plans to add blockchain-based post-trade systems for settlement and custody. 

Significantly, NYSE said the structure can support multiple blockchains. That feature could help the platform adapt as institutions adopt different networks.

NYSE Group President Lynn Martin tied the project to a longer history of innovation at the exchange. She said, “For more than two centuries, the NYSE has transformed the way markets operate.” Martin added, “We are leading the industry toward fully on-chain solutions.”

ICE Expands Digital Strategy With Banks and Clearing Support

ICE described the platform as one step in a broader plan to modernize clearing for nonstop markets. Besides trading upgrades, ICE is working with banks like BNY and Citi on tokenized deposits. 

These deposits could help clearing members move funds outside normal banking hours. Additionally, they could help firms meet margin needs during late sessions and cross-border activity.

Michael Blaugrund, ICE Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, also linked tokenization to the next era of capital markets. He said, “Supporting tokenized securities is a pivotal step in ICE’s strategy.” If NYSE secures approvals, tokenized stock trading could move from concept to a regulated U.S. venue.

Related: XXI Explodes Onto NYSE With $3.9B in Bitcoin: “We’re Buying As Much As We Can”