The US-based technology exchange Nasdaq and the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken are collaborating on a new project aimed at bridging traditional financial markets with blockchain technology. The plan aims to offer tokenized versions of publicly traded company shares to global investors.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Nasdaq will develop a new system with Kraken to enable the issuance and trading of tokenized versions of stocks and other exchange-traded products (ETPs). This initiative aims to accelerate the integration of blockchain infrastructure into traditional financial markets.
In the planned model, tokenized shares will offer investors the same institutional rights as traditional shareholders. These rights include receiving dividends and voting in proxy elections.
Nasdaq aims to make institutional transactions, particularly dividend distribution and company voting, more efficient by automating them through blockchain technology. The new platform is expected to launch in early 2027.
Kraken’s role in the project is that of a distribution partner. Accordingly, tokenized versions of publicly traded company shares, created at a one-to-one ratio, will be accessible, particularly to users outside the US. Kraken customers in Europe and other international markets will be able to access these assets through the platform.
This initiative is seen as a continuation of Nasdaq’s application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in September, which requested that tokenized shares be able to trade alongside traditional shares. According to the proposal, both tokenized and traditional shares would be traded through the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation infrastructure, making the two asset types interchangeable.
*This is not investment advice.