Blockchain.com, NYSE Sign MOU to Explore Tokenized U.S. Stock Trading

NYSE Digital ATS Would Extend Tokenized Stock Access

The companies plan to use NYSE’s digital ATS as the infrastructure through which eligible Blockchain.com users could access tokenized versions of U.S.-listed equities and ETFs. Blockchain.com operates across more than 70 jurisdictions. The separate account said the companies are exploring infrastructure designed for 24/7 trading, bringing continuous access to securities that have traditionally traded during set exchange hours. Tokenized equities could also support fractional ownership and onchain settlement, depending on their structure and applicable regulations.

Blockchain.com Executive Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder Peter Smith said connecting to the NYSE digital ATS could extend access to those assets across Blockchain.com’s global customer base. NYSE Group President Lynn Martin said Blockchain.com’s international reach and experience with digital assets could complement NYSE’s planned tokenized securities platform. Neither executive was quoted directly in the material provided.

The collaboration is also intended to increase the accessibility and liquidity of U.S. equities through tokenization. The planned digital ATS would serve as the mechanism for round-the-clock access to tokenized securities while keeping the initiative tied to regulated exchange infrastructure. The platform cannot move forward without the required approvals.

Blockchain.com and NYSE Plan Two-Way Market Data Integration

The MOU separately covers bidirectional market data distribution. ICE Data Services, an NYSE-affiliated business, plans to distribute Blockchain.com’s crypto market data and analytics to subscribing clients. Blockchain.com plans to integrate certain ICE and NYSE exchange data feeds into its app, giving its users access to real-time stock information alongside the company’s existing crypto services.

Citi Institute has forecast a $5.5 trillion base case for tokenized assets by 2030. Blockchain.com said tokenized stocks could expand investment access while potentially supporting faster and more transparent onchain settlement. Access under the proposed Blockchain.com-NYSE arrangement still depends on the NYSE digital ATS launching and securing any necessary regulatory approvals.

SEC Regulatory Path Could Shape the Rollout

According to CNBC, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order on September 17, 2026, establishing what it called an “Innovation Exemption.” The temporary pathway runs for five years and allows certain trading venues to offer tokenized versions of publicly traded U.S. stocks. Conditions include requiring token holders to retain the same rights as traditional shareholders, including dividends and voting rights, while giving companies the ability to object to their securities being tokenized.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the exemption is “designed to resolve challenges that have prevented responsible innovation from taking root in the United States while providing investor protections and market integrity standards.” Atkins added that “the Commission is not cementing today’s technology as the standard for tomorrow,” with the measure presented as temporary rather than permanent rulemaking.

CNBC said the SEC action came two days after the Clarity Act failed to advance in the Senate. The agency is using existing authority through its “Project Crypto” initiative, launched last year to bring U.S. financial markets onchain. Regulatory developments remain directly relevant to when the Blockchain.com-NYSE proposal could move from an agreement to an operating platform.

Investor rights have also surfaced in other tokenized-stock disputes. AMC’s CEO argued during a public disagreement with Robinhood that tokenizing shares without a company’s involvement undermines the traditional relationship between a business and its shareholders. Coinbase, Robinhood, Gemini and Kraken have already introduced tokenized equity offerings offshore, though those offerings do not currently serve U.S. customers.