Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) said on Tuesday that the New York Stock Exchange and tokenization platform Securitize have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on infrastructure for tokenized securities.
The agreement names Securitize as the first digital transfer agent eligible to mint blockchain-native securities for corporate or ETF issuers on NYSE’s upcoming Digital Trading Platform, according to the official release.
“Preserves trust”
The MOU focuses on the operational plumbing needed before tokenized securities can function on a regulated exchange: digital transfer agent standards, on-chain settlement design, broker-dealer participation, and technology requirements for institutional-grade infrastructure.
Securitize is an SEC-registered transfer agent. Its role would be to maintain official ownership records, process corporate actions like dividends, and ensure tokenized instruments meet public-market obligations. Securitize Markets, the firm’s broker-dealer arm, is also expected to become one of the participants on the Digital Trading Platform.
“As we explore how tokenization can enhance capital markets, it is critical that new infrastructure is developed in a way that preserves the trust, transparency, and protections investors expect,” said Lynn Martin, President of NYSE Group.
The move comes as major U.S. exchanges push to bring equities onto blockchain rails. Reuters reported that the SEC approved a Nasdaq proposal earlier this month to allow certain stocks to be traded and settled in tokenized form.
The announcement is conditional. Language throughout the release references regulatory approvals still needed, and no launch date has been set.
ICE first outlined the Digital Trading Platform in January, describing a venue designed around 24/7 operations, instant settlement, and stablecoin-based funding. Tuesday’s MOU shows the operator is now lining up the transfer-agent and broker-dealer functions needed to make that platform workable.
