Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), has announced a new joint venture with crypto exchange OKX aimed at developing infrastructure for tokenized securities and blockchain-based financial products. This venture will be equally owned by both companies and seeks to establish itself as a regulated U.S. broker-dealer and futures commission merchant, pending the necessary approvals.
Once operational, the joint venture is expected to offer OKX’s extensive global customer base access to the ICE futures markets and to tokenized equities linked specifically to the NYSE. In addition to the immediate goals, ICE and OKX plan to investigate further market opportunities that leverage blockchain technology.
Notably, the initiative will be co-chaired by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. This newly formed partnership follows ICE’s recent strategic investment in OKX, signaling a deeper commitment to integrating blockchain technology within traditional financial infrastructure.
In a previous announcement made in January, ICE revealed plans to build a platform dedicated to trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities. This innovative platform is intended to support 24/7 trading, instant settlement, and stablecoin-based funding, facilitating continuous trading across different blockchain networks while ensuring that tokenized shareholders maintain traditional rights, such as receiving dividends and participating in governance.
The initiative clearly aligns with ICE’s broader strategy to transition trading, custody, and settlement systems onto blockchain frameworks. Additionally, the venture involves collaboration with major financial institutions like BNY and Citi to bolster systems for tokenized deposits and enhance liquidity infrastructure.
This development represents a significant step forward in bridging traditional finance with cutting-edge blockchain technology, setting the stage for a new era in trading and investment.
