Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), a significant player in Wall Street, announced on Monday that it will commence limited tokenized securities trades in July. The full-scale launch of its platform is scheduled for October.
The initiative, housed within DTCC’s Depository Trust Company, aims to enable firms to issue digital versions of assets already under custody while maintaining existing ownership rights and protections, according to a press release.
Input from over 50 companies, including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and crypto-focused entities like Anchorage and Circle, has shaped the system. This marks one of the most concrete timelines yet for a core market infrastructure component transitioning into blockchain-based settlement. DTCC plays a pivotal role in U.S. markets, processing trillions of trades daily and managing custody for over $114 trillion in securities.
Tokenization, which involves representing assets such as stocks or bonds on a blockchain, has attracted increasing interest from traditional financial institutions. Proponents argue that it can shorten settlement times, reduce costs, and broaden market access to new participants.
“We believe tokenization will significantly change how markets work and operate, bringing new levels of liquidity, transparency, and efficiency to investors,” stated Frank La Salla, DTCC President and CEO.
DTCC’s initiative aligns with other Wall Street firms moving towards tokenization. Nasdaq is developing a framework for companies to issue blockchain-based shares and is collaborating with the parent company of crypto exchange operator Kraken for global distribution, potentially launching as early as 2027. Intercontinental Exchange, which owns the New York Stock Exchange, has also endorsed plans for tokenized stocks through a partnership with crypto platform OKX, aiming to leverage its extensive user base.
These efforts signal a broader push towards creating an “everything exchange,” where stocks, bonds, and digital assets trade on unified infrastructure. DTCC has been incrementally progressing toward this goal. The firm has tested distributed ledger technologies for several years and participated in initiatives like the institution-focused Canton Network (CC). In December, it received a no-action letter from the SEC to offer tokenization services for specific assets, including Russell 1000 stocks, ETFs, and U.S. Treasuries.