ICE taps tZERO for NYSE tokenized securities platform

Intercontinental Exchange agreed on Aug. 31 to invest in tZERO and license its blockchain patents as the companies develop infrastructure for an upcoming NYSE-affiliated tokenized securities platform. Summary ICE and tZERO signed agreements covering platform design, financing, patent licensing and potential collateral applications. tZERO will help develop transfer-agent and broker-dealer infrastructure supporting on-chain settlement for tokenized securities markets. ICE will invest in tZERO’s financing round, although both companies withheld the investment’s value publicly. NYSE’s planned platform still requires regulatory approvals before offering round-the-clock trading and immediate blockchain settlement. tZERO says its licensed portfolio contains 103 patents across 23 families covering tokenized-market infrastructure globally. The agreements make tZERO a design partner for digital transfer-agent and broker-dealer systems intended to support the issuance, trading and on-chain settlement of public securities. ICE owns the New York Stock Exchange and several major clearing houses. The companies did not disclose the size of ICE’s investment, tZERO’s valuation or a timetable for com...