NYSE targets 24/7 Wall Street trading with new digital token platform

The New York Stock Exchange is developing a digital platform that will allow investors to trade tokenized assets 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to its parent company, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

The new platform will operate independently from the main NYSE exchange, which remains limited to traditional weekday trading hours. ICE stated the digital venue will feature instant transaction settlement, dollar-denominated orders, and funding backed by stablecoins.

Tokenization uses blockchain technology to create digital tokens representing traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, or real estate. These tokens can be traded at any time and from any location, mirroring the continuous nature of the cryptocurrency market.

If granted regulatory approval, the platform will support the trading of tokenized versions of corporate stocks.

The move is part of a broader effort by ICE to expand its clearinghouse capabilities to handle around-the-clock security trades. ICE is currently collaborating with major financial institutions, including Citigroup and Bank of New York Mellon, to support the initiative.

The New York Stock Exchange’s pivot toward 24/7 trading marks a watershed moment for traditional finance (TradFi), signaling an end to the era of experimental blockchain pilots and the beginning of a direct offensive against decentralized finance (DeFi). By moving toward a continuous market model, NYSE and its parent company, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), are positioning themselves to reclaim the liquidity and accessibility advantages long enjoyed by the crypto-native ecosystem.

The primary headwinds facing this transition are regulatory, not technological. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has maintained a historically cautious—and at times adversarial—posture toward digital asset infrastructure. However, the entry of the NYSE, the preeminent symbol of American capital markets, likely serves as a catalyst for a more definitive regulatory framework. The strategic involvement of banking giants like Citigroup and BNY Mellon provides more than just operational support; it adds the institutional legitimacy and political weight necessary to shift the needle in Washington.

A shift to 24/7 operations would fundamentally alter the architecture of global markets. The traditional concept of "trading sessions" and the symbolic "closing bell" face obsolescence as the boundaries between Asian, European, and American markets dissolve into a single, continuous stream of capital. While this provides unprecedented access for global investors, it also introduces heightened risks regarding price volatility and flash crashes in a market that never sleeps.

The ultimate objective, however, extends far beyond equity trading. This move lays the groundwork for the wholesale tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWA). By moving these assets on-chain, ICE and NYSE aim to transform historically illiquid holdings—ranging from commercial real estate to fine art—into highly divisible, liquid instruments, permanently reshaping the nature of global asset ownership.

This is a significant development for Vietnamese-American retail investors, especially the tech-savvy younger generation currently active in the crypto space. If approved, the platform would provide a more secure, regulated framework for accessing digital assets and trading outside of traditional market hours. For the community—from entrepreneurs in Little Saigon to young professionals looking to diversify their portfolios—this offers a safer, more transparent way to build wealth through digital finance.