The New York Stock Exchange and tokenization firm Securitize signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday to jointly develop NYSE's Digital Trading Platform — a blockchain-based venue where US stocks and ETFs can be issued, traded, and settled around the clock.

What the Deal Covers

Under the MOU, Securitize will act as a design partner for NYSE's platform, focusing specifically on how transfer agents — the entities that track share ownership and handle corporate actions — operate when securities move onto blockchain rails. Securitize, which is registered with the SEC as a transfer agent and is backed by BlackRock and Ark Invest, expects to be among the first firms authorized to mint tokenized versions of listed stocks and ETFs on the new venue.

The platform would allow trades to be funded by stablecoins and settled near-instantly, preserving full shareholder rights including dividends and voting. NYSE's existing Pillar matching engine is slated to integrate with on-chain settlement infrastructure.

A Race Now at Both Ends of Wall Street

The partnership puts both of America's largest exchange operators firmly in the tokenization lane. Nasdaq obtained SEC approval in March for a tokenized stock trading framework and named crypto exchange Kraken as its global distribution partner. NYSE's parent, Intercontinental Exchange, also recently invested in OKX to explore tokenized stocks and derivatives.

Securitize is preparing to go public this year via a SPAC deal with Cantor Equitize Partners. The tokenized equity market currently totals around $1 billion — a fraction of the $126 trillion global equity market that exchanges are now racing to migrate onto blockchain infrastructure.

Launch of the NYSE Digital Trading Platform is expected in late 2026, pending regulatory approval.