Nasdaq teams up with Kraken to expand tokenization infrastructure

Nasdaq is partnering with crypto exchange Kraken's parent company Payward to build infrastructure that enables traditional securities to be issued and traded as blockchain-based assets. The collaboration will use Payward's xStocks platform to move equities from institutional trading systems onto blockchain networks, reflecting growing institutional interest in tokenized financial markets. As regulators gradually open the door to digital asset infrastructure, major exchanges are positioning tokenized stocks as a pathway toward always-on markets with faster settlement and new forms of shareholder engagement.