Securitize, Computershare open path for $70 trillion U.S. stocks to move onchain
The tie-up between the tokenization specialist and transfer agent giant lets public companies issue blockchain-based shares without changing market structure.
What to know:
- Securitize and Computershare will let U.S.-listed firms issue tokenized shares alongside traditional stock.
- Computershare serves over half of the S&P 500, and will act as transfer agent for tokenized holdings.
- Structure keeps shares within current rules while giving investors a blockchain-based holding option.
The effort is part of a broader push to make tokenized shares work within current market rules while offering new ways to hold and move assets, from wallet-based ownership to faster settlement. Transfer agents like Computershare sit at the center of that system, maintaining shareholder records and handling corporate actions.
By integrating at that layer, the companies aim to avoid a common crypto workaround, in which tokens represent claims on shares rather than the shares themselves.
Securitize is a blockchain-based firm, enabling real-world assets, such as equities and funds, to be issued, traded, and managed in tokenized form on blockchain networks.
Blockchain meets transfer agents
Under the setup, Computershare will act as transfer agent for tokenized shares just as it does for traditional ones. That includes managing records and processing events like dividends or stock splits across both formats.
