Partnership
DTC's Tokenization Service to connect with the Stellar public blockchain
A new connection between DTC and a public blockchain
DTCC and the Stellar Development Foundation have announced plans to enable the tokenization of DTC-custodied assets on the Stellar network—a configurable, open-source blockchain used across securities, payment, and remittance applications.
The collaboration builds on the SEC No-Action Letter that DTC received in December 2025. The letter authorizes DTC to implement and operate a service that tokenizes real-world, DTC-custodied assets. Market participants will be able to leverage traditional assets in a digital ecosystem while retaining the same investor protections, entitlements, and safeguards consistent with those applicable to traditionally held securities.
DTC-tokenized assets are expected to become available on the Stellar network in the first half of 2027.
Traditional assets, digital infrastructure
The connection supports the rapid conversion of traditional assets into tokenized form, and the full asset lifecycle—including corporate actions and reporting.
Four outcomes for market participants:
- Faster settlement. Potentially move from days to minutes for eligible asset transfers.
- Greater asset mobility. Tokenized assets become available across digital venues without leaving the regulated perimeter.
- Extended trading hours. Trading is no longer constrained by traditional market hours.
- Lower cost and risk. Potential for fewer intermediated steps and reduced reconciliation overhead.
Throughout, market participants retain the same investor protections, entitlements, and safeguards as for traditionally held securities.
Why Stellar
Built for the regulated perimeter
DTCC's evaluation of blockchain networks emphasized three properties. Stellar meets all three.
- Compliance-minded architecture. Asset-level controls are first-class in the protocol, supporting the regulated workflows institutional markets require.
- Open infrastructure. A public, configurable, open-source network with experience supporting institutional assets onchain.
- Risk management capabilities. Transaction throughput and low-cost operations that meet the rigorous standards of post-trade infrastructure.
Stellar's proven track record with institutional assets onchain is an important factor in our evaluation of blockchain networks. Its emphasis on compliance, transaction throughput, and low-cost operations meets our rigorous standards and will help ensure we're ready for growth as usage of blockchain networks for real-world asset transactions increases.
Nadine Chakar, Managing Director and Global Head of DTCC Digital Assets
Asset classes under evaluation
DTCC and SDF will collaborate to evaluate potential tokenization use cases for certain eligible asset classes. Examples under consideration may include highly liquid assets such as:
- Constituents of the Russell 1000
- ETFs tracking major indices
- U.S. Treasury bills, bonds, and notes
Any such use cases would be subject to further evaluation and all consistent with DTC's regulatory obligations.
DTCC is the backbone of global capital markets, and integrating their tokenization service with Stellar connects public blockchain networks to regulated market infrastructure. Stellar's proven compliance-minded architecture, open infrastructure, and risk management capabilities are aligned with market demands and expectations. Our network was built for this moment—we have always believed that blockchain's utility for finance is to be the rail that institutional-grade markets can depend on.
Denelle Dixon, CEO and Executive Director, Stellar Development Foundation
Build with Stellar
For institutions evaluating tokenized settlement, custody, or corporate actions on a public network, the SDF enterprise team can walk through the integration path.