Stock markets are witnessing a new approach with digital asset platforms. The growing interest in blockchain has opened doors for innovative financial products.
Figure, a popular blockchain-based lending company, has revealed plans for a brand new digital trading platform. The move comes as demand surges for solutions that let traditional stocks operate seamlessly within decentralized finance ecosystems. Start Cloud Mining projects and trading environments are both rapidly evolving, sharing a vision to offer investors efficiency, transparency, and easier access to global markets.
This new venture by Figure is called the OPEN platform. It focuses on creating equity shares that exist entirely on blockchain, bypassing traditional intermediaries like the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation. Industry experts believe this approach could streamline trading and settlement, drastically reducing the cost and complexity of transacting traditional stocks.
OPEN’s backers include Jump Crypto and BitGo, two heavyweight names in digital finance. Their involvement is seen as a strong nod to the promise and reliability of the platform. By giving investors a direct link to equities through the blockchain, the system hopes to eliminate outdated stock transfer processes.
Traditionally, shares of stock are processed by central institutions. These entities ensure records are accurate, but they often depend on slow, batch-based systems and can cause delays. Transferring stock ownership or using shares as collateral for loans usually takes too long for most investors’ preferences. Figure’s OPEN platform could reshape this by recording stock ownership directly onto the blockchain.
There is significant excitement around what this means for DeFi-based lending options. Users of the new platform can take out loans using their on-chain equity shares as collateral. They bypass many regulatory obstacles linked to custodial accounts. The process not only speeds up funding but also grants loan providers more flexibility when assessing collateral and granting credit.
Banks, hedge funds and everyday investors might soon be able to trade U.S. equities as natively digital assets. BitGo brings security services to the new venture while Jump’s involvement points to aspirations for high-volume trading. Each trade on the new Figure platform promises almost instant settlement, compared to the two-day settlement windows in legacy financial systems.
Market analysts say there is fierce competition in the digital stock tokenization arena. Several rival companies are racing to develop compliant blockchain-native solutions. The winner may capture a lucrative market, especially as more major investors grow comfortable holding and trading tokenized assets.
There are also intriguing legal questions. SEC guidance insists certain equity products must be registered under national securities laws. Figure says its platform works only with equities registered natively on blockchain, maintaining strict compliance. Early participants in the project will also undergo full identity verification, in keeping with financial industry standards.
The company has not yet disclosed which specific stocks or companies will be available on the OPEN platform. Insiders suggest a gradual rollout is planned, beginning with equities from companies open to native digital issuance. Over time, the ambition is to extend access beyond U.S. borders, aiming for a truly global exchange.
Past efforts to digitize equities struggled with regulatory uncertainty. Legacy institutions have a strong grip on how company shares are created, transferred and held. Breaking from these systems took years of coordination between lawmakers, trading venues and technology providers. Figure’s model stands out for putting blockchain first in both ownership and trading.
Investors will benefit from full transparency, as all transactions and equity records are viewable on public ledgers. Being able to instantly verify asset control is expected to minimize fraud and errors. Proponents say this could also help build trust among smaller retail investors historically underserved by traditional stock markets.
Beyond securities trading, OPEN’s blockchain architecture might become a launchpad for other asset classes. There’s talk of extending services to private company shares, corporate debt, or real estate holdings in digital formats. What unites these proposals is an ambition to modernize capital markets while maintaining regulatory guardrails.
Some experts point out that blockchain’s efficiency could also create new markets for borrowing and lending. By making it possible to easily use shares as a loan guarantee, the door is open for creative financial solutions not possible within standard brokerage accounts.
Earlier tokenization efforts focused on creating wrappers around traditional stocks, but these often kept the underlying assets with central repositories. Figure’s system issues shares directly on blockchain, meaning asset owners have clear, direct control. For regulatory bodies and market operators, this marks a significant leap forward in compliance and innovation.
Conclusion
Figure’s move to provide a direct, blockchain-native route for equities comes at a time when global finance increasingly looks to digital assets for new possibilities. As the OPEN platform gains traction, industry attention will likely focus on how quickly compliance is maintained and whether investors flock to native digital equities.
With strong partners like BitGo and Jump Crypto, the new Figure trading platform signals a major shift in how stocks are bought, sold, and leveraged in DeFi markets. If successful, the project could redefine stock ownership for years to come, delivering speed, transparency, and unprecedented access for market participants worldwide.
Ewan’s fascination with cryptocurrency started through his curiosity about innovative technologies reshaping the financial world. Over the past four years, he has specialized in cloud mining and crypto asset management, diving deep into mining contracts, profitability analysis, and emerging trends. Ewan is dedicated to helping readers understand the technical and economic aspects of crypto mining, making complex information accessible and actionable.
