The NYSE Group and Blockchain.com have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore round-the-clock trading of tokenized US stocks and ETFs, the companies announced on September 23.
The plan would give Blockchain.com users access to tokenized exchange-listed equities and ETFs through the NYSE's previously announced digital alternative trading system, subject to regulatory approval, according to a PRNewswire statement from Dallas and New York.
Related reading: Circle's USDC borrowing service for institutions; SEC Sept 27 crypto ETF options deadline.
What the Deal Covers
The MOU sketches a distribution plan rather than a finished product. Blockchain.com would connect its global customer base to the NYSE digital ATS, where investors could trade tokenized versions of stocks and ETFs listed on major US exchanges at any hour, any day.
Data flows both ways. Blockchain.com would feed its crypto market data and analytics to ICE data subscribers, while NYSE and ICE market data would sit inside the Blockchain.com platform, KuCoin reported.
The Numbers Behind It
- 95 million wallets supported and 44 million confirmed accounts on Blockchain.com
- $1.1 trillion in crypto transactions handled since its 2011 launch
- 70-plus jurisdictions in its operating footprint
Peter Smith, Blockchain.com executive chairman, CEO and co-founder, called tokenized stocks one of the most impactful market advances and "a key catalyst for greater economic freedom." "People should not be limited in owning stocks based on where they happen to live," he said.
Why This Is Not Live Yet
The key caveat sits in one phrase: subject to required regulatory approvals. The NYSE has not launched the digital ATS, and the memorandum is a statement of intent, not an operating venue, CryptoDnes noted.
The direction of travel still favours the project. On September 17 the SEC approved a temporary Innovation Exemption letting permissioned venues trade tokenized stocks on blockchain rails, a signal Washington wants tokenization tested inside supervised markets.
Why This Matters for Markets
If approved, the model breaks the Wall Street clock. Asian retail investors who now wait for the US open could trade tokenized Apple or an S&P 500 ETF on a Sunday night, while issuers gain a distribution channel into crypto-native capital that never sleeps.
For exchanges, the prize is relevance. Every tokenized share traded on a licensed ATS keeps volume inside supervised infrastructure instead of leaking to offshore venues.
What to Watch Next
- Regulatory filings that turn the MOU into an approvable product
- The digital ATS launch date and which securities list first
- Rival moves from Nasdaq, Cboe and offshore tokenized-stock venues