Wall Street on the Blockchain: Currenc Group Tokenizes Nasdaq Shares
- 260% surge: The market for tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) grew by 260% in the first half of 2025. - $4T–$10T projection: Analysts estimate the RWA tokenization market could reach $4 trillion to $10 trillion by 2030. - 24/7 trading: Tokenized shares enable round-the-clock trading, fractional ownership, and lower settlement costs.
Experts view this as a foundational step toward a more efficient, global, and interoperable financial system, with tokenized equities potentially rewriting how shares are traded and utilized.
Wall Street on the Blockchain: Currenc Group Tokenizes Nasdaq Shares
MIAMI and SINGAPORE – April 08, 2026 – The long-promised convergence of traditional stock markets and blockchain technology took a significant leap forward today. Securitize, a leader in real-world asset tokenization, announced it has tokenized the ordinary shares of Nasdaq-listed Currenc Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CURR), making them available on both the Ethereum and Solana blockchains. This move effectively creates a new, on-chain platform for public equity, potentially rewriting the rules for how shares are traded, held, and utilized.
By representing its public stock as digital tokens, Currenc is testing a model that could dismantle the constraints of traditional market hours. The initiative promises investors the ability to trade 24/7, settle transactions at lower costs, and own fractional shares, while integrating public equities directly into the burgeoning world of decentralized finance (DeFi).
A New Blueprint for Public Markets
The tokenization was hailed by company leaders as a foundational step toward a more efficient and open financial system. "By bringing Currenc shares onchain, we are working toward a model where shareholders could access 24/7 markets, participate globally, use their holdings more efficiently, and potentially unlock new forms of utility including collateralization and automated trading," said Alex Kong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Currenc Group, in the announcement.
This initiative is not merely about creating a digital wrapper for a traditional asset. Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and CEO of Securitize, emphasized that this is an example of "issuer-led tokenization" where the token represents the actual, underlying security. "This is about more than putting shares on a blockchain," Domingo stated. "We are working toward a market structure where public equities can move globally, trade more efficiently, and become more interoperable with the next generation of financial infrastructure."
Securitize, which has a pending business combination with Cantor Equity Partners II, Inc. that would see it publicly listed under the ticker "SECZ," is a key architect in this new landscape. The firm is already a design partner for the New York Stock Exchange's own planned platform for 24/7 tokenized securities trading, signaling a powerful institutional push toward on-chain finance.
Wall Street's Broader On-Chain Ambition
Currenc's move is not an isolated event but rather a high-profile example of a seismic shift occurring across global finance. The market for tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) surged over 260% in the first half of 2025 alone, and analysts project the market could reach between $4 trillion and $10 trillion by 2030. Major financial incumbents are no longer watching from the sidelines.
Both the NYSE and Nasdaq are actively developing tokenization platforms and seeking regulatory approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. (DTCC), the backbone of U.S. capital markets, has its own ambitious plans to tokenize U.S. Treasuries and eventually its entire $100 trillion asset catalog, with key regulatory approvals anticipated later this year. This institutional embrace provides a powerful tailwind for projects like the one pioneered by Currenc and Securitize.
Regulators are also adapting, albeit cautiously. The SEC maintains that tokenized securities are subject to existing federal laws, ensuring investor protections remain paramount. Meanwhile, frameworks like the EU's DLT Pilot Regime are creating regulated sandboxes for innovation, demonstrating a global trend toward accepting and structuring digital asset markets.
Currenc's Strategic Play and the Animoca Connection
For Currenc Group, a fintech company focused on AI tools and cross-border payments, the decision to tokenize its shares is a bold strategic maneuver. The move aligns with its identity as a forward-thinking technology firm and serves as a powerful differentiator in the public markets. However, the strategy becomes even more compelling when viewed through the lens of its proposed reverse merger with Animoca Brands, a giant in digital assets, gaming, and Web3.
If completed, the merger would create a Nasdaq-listed entity—operating under the Animoca Brands name—described as the "world's first publicly-listed, diversified digital assets conglomerate." This would give U.S. public market investors direct exposure to a portfolio of over 600 Web3 projects. By tokenizing its shares now, Currenc is not only innovating but also building a bridge to the digitally native world that Animoca inhabits. This on-chain presence could create unique synergies and appeal to a new class of investors who are fluent in the language of blockchains and digital ownership.
Unlocking New Utility for Investors
The most transformative aspect of tokenizing public shares may be the new forms of utility it unlocks. Beyond the convenience of 24/7 trading and the accessibility of fractional ownership down to six decimal places, bringing shares on-chain integrates them into the programmable world of DeFi.
This means Currenc shares could potentially be used as collateral in decentralized lending protocols, allowing shareholders to borrow against their assets without selling them. They could be integrated into automated market makers (AMMs), providing liquidity and earning fees. Sophisticated investors could even incorporate the tokenized shares into automated portfolio strategies governed by smart contracts.
For now, investors interested in this new paradigm can visit the Securitize platform to review eligibility requirements and begin the onboarding process. While the path to mainstream adoption is still being paved, the launch of tokenized Currenc shares on public blockchains serves as a landmark event, offering a tangible glimpse into a future where the line between Wall Street and the digital frontier continues to blur.
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