ICE and tZERO team up to build infrastructure for tokenized securities
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has partnered with blockchain firm tZERO to develop infrastructure for trading tokenized securities. Tokenized securities are traditional assets like stocks or bonds represented as digital tokens on a blockchain, which allows for easier transfer and tracking.
What the partnership includes
tZERO will serve as a design partner for ICE’s upcoming platform for tokenized securities, which will be affiliated with the NYSE. ICE will also invest in tZERO’s latest funding round and license its blockchain patent portfolio, which covers 103 patents related to compliant transfers, smart contracts, and corporate actions. The two companies will explore using tZERO’s tokenized assets for collateral management at ICE’s clearing houses.
Statements from both companies
tZERO CEO Alan Konevsky said the partnership is a natural step forward for the company’s infrastructure-as-a-service offering and for tokenized markets in general. Michael Blaugrund, VP of Strategic Initiatives at ICE, called tZERO a valuable partner due to its experience in regulated on-chain infrastructure.
Background on the companies
tZERO, which gained approval to custody digital assets in September 2024, competes with firms like Securitize and Superstate in the tokenization space. Earlier this year, tZERO filed a cease-and-desist letter against Securitize over patent disputes.
ICE has made several on-chain investments recently, including a $600 million cash investment in prediction market Polymarket in March 2026 and an investment in crypto exchange OKX at a $25 billion valuation. In June 2026, ICE and OKX announced a joint venture to develop infrastructure for tokenized and digitally native financial products.
