Key Takeaways:
- DTCC and Stellar plan DTC asset tokenization on Stellar by H1 2027.
- SEC’s 2025 No-Action Letter cleared DTCC to tokenize custodial assets.
- DTCC targets tokenized ETFs, Treasuries, and Russell 1000 stocks next.
[/key_takwaways]
Stellar Joins DTCC Digital Asset Push as Tokenized Markets Near Launch
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) is moving further into tokenized markets through a planned integration with the Stellar blockchain.
DTCC and the Stellar Development Foundation disclosed they intend to enable the tokenization of assets custodied by the Depository Trust Company (DTC) on the Stellar network. The companies expect DTC-tokenized assets to become available on Stellar in the first half of 2027.
The plan follows a No-Action Letter issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in December 2025. That letter authorized DTC to implement and operate a service for tokenizing real-world assets held in custody. DTCC said the service is designed to let market participants use traditional assets in a digital environment while keeping the same investor protections and entitlements.
The initiative could support faster settlement, greater asset mobility, extended trading hours, and lower operational risk. It also fits DTCC’s broader standards-driven, multi-chain strategy as traditional finance firms test blockchain infrastructure at scale.
“This collaboration represents another step forward in DTCC’s efforts to build an open, interoperable digital infrastructure that bridges traditional and digital markets,” said Frank La Salla, DTCC’s president and CEO. La Salla added that tokenization could improve transaction and capital efficiency, increase transparency, and support collateral mobility.
Stellar is a public blockchain used for securities, payments, and remittances. The planned integration will support the conversion of traditional assets into tokenized form, along with the asset lifecycle, including corporate actions and reporting.
Denelle Dixon, CEO and executive director of the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), said the partnership links public blockchain networks with regulated market infrastructure.
Stellar’s proven compliance-minded architecture, open infrastructure, and risk management capabilities are aligned with market demands and expectations. We have always believed that blockchain’s utility for finance is to be the rail that institutional-grade markets can depend on.
Before launch, DTCC and SDF will study potential use cases across eligible asset classes. These may include highly liquid securities such as Russell 1000 constituents, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking major indexes, and U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds.
Brian Steele, DTCC managing director and president of clearing and securities services, said the firm aims to bring tokenization to markets safely and at scale. He said DTCC will use more than 50 years of clearing and settlement experience to help drive industry adoption.
The Stellar connection is one step in that wider buildout. For capital markets, it signals a shift from tokenization pilots toward infrastructure that could sit alongside core securities settlement systems.
