NYSE explores blockchain for Wall Street

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is building a blockchain-powered trading platform that could allow tokenized U.S. equities and ETFs to trade 24/7 with potentially near-instant settlement.

Revealed earlier this week, the initiative represents a potential shift from traditional markets defined by limited trading hours and delayed settlement. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the NYSE’s parent company, is now seeking regulatory approval to launch the platform later this year.

If approved, the platform would sit alongside the NYSE as a separate venue, allowing investors to buy and sell tokenized versions of real stocks. The key shift is under the hood: trades could settle instantly on blockchain infrastructure, replacing next-day settlement that ties up capital and introduces risk.

The proposed system also envisions stablecoin-based funding, using dollar-pegged digital tokens such as USDC or similar stablecoins, enabling trades and funding outside standard banking hours. ICE is working with major institutions including Bank of New York Mellon and Citigroup to support tokenized deposits across its global clearinghouses.

“24/7 trading removes another hurdle to RWA adoption by creating the opportunity for continuous liquidity,” comments Sergej Kunz, 1inch co-founder. “However, it isn’t a silver bullet: liquidity still has to exist at those hours. Unless cross-venue and cross-chain fragmentation is addressed simultaneously, reliable liquidity will remain elusive.”

Wall Street’s embrace of tokenization is far from isolated. Platforms like Kraken and Robinhood have already moved into 24/7 tokenized stock trading, offering fractional access to equities that traditional markets can’t provide outside regular hours. This trend aligns with a broader idea of using blockchain to shorten settlement times and expand global access to U.S. equities.

Tokenization isn’t just technical innovation. It’s a strategic shift. By converting shares into digital tokens on a blockchain, markets lower barriers, enhance transparency and reduce operational friction. This, in turn, facilitates participation from a wider set of investors around the world.

Yet regulatory hurdles remain. The platform still needs approval, and U.S. authorities have been cautious about integrating decentralized tech into regulated securities markets.

If the project succeeds, it could set a precedent for traditional finance adopting on-chain infrastructure, marking a significant milestone in mainstreaming digital assets.

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