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New York Stock Exchange President Lynn Martin said the exchange felt a “responsibility” to engage with tokenization, speaking at the World Liberty Forum in Palm Beach, Florida, as reported by CoinDesk. Martin said NYSE has developed tokenization technology and is working with regulators on how tokenized assets can operate within the existing financial framework.
The comments sit alongside Intercontinental Exchange’s previously disclosed work on a blockchain-based platform intended to support tokenized securities trading and on-chain settlement under a new NYSE venue, subject to regulatory approvals. The concept includes 24/7 trading for tokenized stocks and ETFs “later this year,” but noted the exchange had not provided a specific launch date or detailed plan as of publication.
The appearance took place at an event tied to World Liberty Financial, with Reuters describing the Trump family as hosting the World Liberty Forum to discuss crypto-related plans. CoinDesk also reported CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig appeared on the same panel, commenting on regulators needing to “seize” the moment.
ICE has framed the proposed platform as operationally distinct from the NYSE’s traditional schedule and designed for instant settlement, fractionalized order sizing, and stablecoin-based funding, while still seeking regulatory clearance, as described by the Associated Press. ICE’s own platform document says tokenized shares on the venue would be “fully fungible” with traditionally issued shares and carry identical economic and governance rights, and that the system is “chain agnostic,” supporting multiple blockchains for settlement and custody.
The development is non-trivial for RWA market structure because it links tokenization to an incumbent exchange operator and clearing ecosystem: Reuters reported ICE is working with banks including Citigroup and BNY Mellon on tokenized deposits intended to support around-the-clock funding and collateral movements, and ICE’s document describes tokenized deposits as a tool for clearing members to manage cash and collateral outside conventional banking hours. AP also explicitly characterizes tokenization as using blockchain to create digital tokens that can stand in for assets including stocks, bonds, and real estate, situating the exchange-led initiative within the broader tokenized-asset landscape.
For issuers, broker-dealers, and institutional investors, the immediate practical effect is limited to what has been described publicly so far: the NYSE/ICE initiative remains contingent on regulatory scrutiny and approvals, with no confirmed launch date or implementation plan beyond stated goals. For regulators and supervisors, the event underscores that major market operators are actively discussing how tokenized instruments could be accommodated within existing frameworks—an issue Martin said NYSE is already engaging on with regulators .
