ICE unveils tokenized cash venue for US stocks and ETFs with 24/7 instant settlement plan

On Jan. 19, Intercontinental Exchange, the parent of the NYSE, outlined plans for a separate trading venue for tokenized US‑listed equities and ETFs, built around stablecoin-based funding and blockchain settlement. The platform aims to enable 24/7 trading, near‑instant settlement with tokenized capital, and fractional share trading while preserving traditional investor rights and remaining subject to regulatory approval. Industry debate now centers on how much value this shift in market plumbing will actually deliver to existing crypto tokens versus blockchains and DeFi infrastructure.