DTCC Plans 25-Security Token Launch on Canton and Besu Blockchains
DTCC to launch tokenized securities on Canton and Besu
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has unveiled plans for a tokenization service that will initially offer 25 different securities as digital tokens. The launch will begin on Canton Network and DTCC's private Besu blockchain, according to an overview shared on Oct. 16.
DTCC already processed production trades using tokenized securities on both networks on July 15, ahead of the planned October service launch.
What tokens will look like
Tokens will be backed 1:1 by securities held at DTCC's depository subsidiary, The Depository Trust Company (DTC). Each token keeps the same CUSIP identifier, investor rights, and legal protections as traditional book-entry securities. DTC will maintain the official ownership records.
For participating institutions, the service allows DTC-held securities to move between traditional book-entry format and tokenized form.
DTCC described roughly $30 trillion as "assets available to be tokenized." This is an eligibility figure, not a measure of what has actually been issued onchain. For context, DTCC reported $114 trillion in securities under custody and servicing at DTC for 2025.
Transfer and conversion rules
At launch, the service supports 24/7 peer-to-peer transfers within a blockchain network between DTC-registered wallets. Tokens carry transfer restrictions and cannot be sent to just any crypto wallet.
Conversion orders between tokenized and book-entry form run on a narrower schedule: 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET on business days, through the service's user interface or API, with a target processing time of 15 minutes or less.
Initial securities and future networks
The first batch includes selected large-cap Russell 1000 stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs — investment funds that trade on exchanges like stocks), and U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds. DTCC plans to expand the eligible selection over time.
Stellar and Circle's Arc are listed as "anticipated in 2027," meaning they are not part of the initial launch.
Payments on the roadmap
At launch, Treasury interest payments and maturity payouts will still be made in traditional fiat currency to participants' conventional bank accounts. Digital cash settlements and onchain netting are on the 2027-and-beyond roadmap, which DTCC says it will prioritize together with participants and industry input.
What remains unclear
DTCC has not yet disclosed which specific institutions will participate in the initial launch, nor the exact date in October when the service will go live.
Why this matters
DTCC is one of the largest post-trade infrastructures in global finance, and its move into tokenization signals a significant step toward bringing traditional securities onto blockchain networks. The 1:1 backing model and retention of existing investor protections aim to ease the transition for institutions already using DTC services.
What happens next
DTCC plans to expand the range of eligible securities over time and add corporate-action servicing and settlement features. Stellar and Circle's Arc are expected to join the network in 2027.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.