The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is working on a new digital platform that would let people trade tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds around the clock, seven days a week, the company revealed in a press release today, Jan. 19.
The largest stock exchange globally said in the release that the launch is only “one component” of its parent company Intercontinental Exchange’s “broader digital strategy.” Intercontinental Exchange is also working with major banks, including BNY Mellon and Citi, to support tokenized deposits across its global clearinghouses, according to the announcement.
Michael Blaugrund, vice president at Intercontinental Exchange, told Bloomberg in an interview today that the move reflects an “evolution of NYSE’s trading capabilities.” He added that NYSE could give retail investors more opportunities, allowing them to trade 24/7 and use funds immediately.
“It allows for new types of investor accessibility, and will create new opportunities for retail to participate in the stablecoin-funded markets that have attracted their attention,” Blaugrund said.
According to Bloomberg’s report, the NYSE intends to combine its existing trading system with private blockchain networks, though the team didn’t reveal further details.
The Defiant reached out to Intercontinental Exchange for details and comments on the move, but hasn’t heard back by press time.
Blaugrund also added that the company is in the process of working with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to gain approval, and Bloomberg reports that NYSE is aiming to roll out the new platform later this year.
In mid-December, Nasdaq filed with the SEC for approval to offer 24-hour trading on weekdays to meet rising global demand for U.S. stock trading. The firm says, pending regulatory approval, it plans to launch the new trading hours in the second half of this year.
Tokenized stocks have seen a huge jump in popularity in the past year. In January of last year, the total market cap of tokenized equity stood at just over $5 million, while this month it’s just over $397 million — a 7,840% increase year-over-year.
As The Defiant reported last month, centralized crypto exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken are competing for their share of the sector, while decentralized platforms such as TradeXYZ and Ostium are pushing on-chain, crypto-native adoption.