The barrier between traditional stock markets and crypto continues to thin. OKXICE LLC - a 50-50 joint venture between crypto exchange OKX and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) - has officially filed a notice with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The entity is preparing to launch a round-the-clock tokenized stock trading platform tailored specifically for the U.S. market. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who now serves as co-chair of the joint venture, announced the filing directly via his X account.
The move is hardly an overnight development. OKXICE was formed in June 2026, following a strategic investment from ICE into OKX in March 2026. The SEC’s Innovation Exemption regulation, issued on September 17, 2026, paved the way by granting tokenization platforms a five-year grace period from traditional exchange definitions under the Exchange Act. Key requirements mandate that the platform’s smart contracts remain public, auditable, and operate on an open, permissionless distributed ledger.
Strict Requirements for U.S. Equities
In its initial phase, the OKXICE platform lists 63 stocks already trading on the NYSE. Unlike the more than 70 offshore tokenized stocks previously offered by OKX without access for U.S. investors, this new structure guarantees full investor protections. Each tokenized share must grant its holder identical rights to ordinary shares, entitling investors to dividend payouts, voting rights, and residual asset claims in the event of corporate liquidation.
The SEC has also established operational guardrails. For Tier 1 equities, the regulator caps listings at a maximum of 75 company tickers per platform - a limit OKXICE complies with by offering just 63 stocks. Regulators have also locked maximum trading volume at 0.25% of the average daily volume from the preceding month to maintain market stability.
Issuer Opt-Out Rights and Market Trends
Companies whose shares face third-party tokenization receive explicit protections. Issuers are granted a full 30-day window to file an objection. If an issuer opts out, the tokenization process is canceled. This rule ensures companies retain control over how their equity is traded outside conventional exchange hours.
The expansion by OKX and ICE comes as the real-world asset tokenization sector gains momentum. Data from RWA.xyz reports the global tokenized equity market has surpassed $3.2 billion, registering 15% growth over the past month alone.
The combination of OKX’s crypto infrastructure and ICE’s institutional network shifts tokenization from a limited experiment into a mainstream investment vehicle. For U.S. retail investors, the platform unlocks direct access to liquidity in major corporate shares no longer bound by traditional trading hours. As reported by CoinDesk.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
