LSE and Kraken parent to tokenize top 100 UK stocks
6.7 Banking LSE and Payward will tokenize the top 100 UK-listed companies as xStocks for global investors, excluding the UK. Trading will be supported on LSE 24, pending regulatory approval.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has partnered with Payward, the parent company of Kraken, to tokenize shares of the 100 largest UK-listed companies using the xStocks framework. These tokenized shares will be accessible to eligible investors in over 110 countries within weeks, although UK-based investors will not have access at launch. The initiative aims to modernize equity markets by bringing traditional stocks onto blockchain infrastructure, with each xStock backed one-to-one by the underlying security. Pending regulatory approval, the LSE plans to list and support trading of xStocks on its upcoming 24-hour venue, LSE 24, scheduled for launch in 2027. The partnership will also explore wallet-based access, blockchain infrastructure, and integration with the LSE’s regulated market ecosystem. No specific companies or launch date have been disclosed. This move is part of LSE’s broader strategy to integrate digital securities and modernize market infrastructure while maintaining shareholder rights and regulatory standards.
