DTCC Tokenization Service Opens $30 Trillion in Assets, Launching 25 Securities on Canton and Besu

Wall Street’s central securities depository now has a concrete blueprint for moving traditional assets onchain. The DTCC Tokenization Service will make roughly $30 trillion in DTC-held assets eligible for tokenization. For context, DTC holds about $114 trillion in custody, so the eligible pool covers a meaningful slice of that base. However, the launch itself starts far smaller. Initially, the service will support just 25 securities across U.S. equities, exchange-traded funds and Treasuries. Each token carries 1:1 backing by an asset that DTC already holds. As a result, the model avoids synthetic exposure and keeps every token tied to a real security in custody.

🌑 DTCC today released new details of its Tokenization Service, outlining approximately $30 trillion in assets available for tokenization. Canton Network and DTCC’s private Hyperledger Besu network are designated for launch, with Stellar and Circle’s Arc anticipated in 2027. The service will initially support 25 securities across U.S. equities, ETFs and Treasuries, backed 1:1 by assets held at DTC. Tokenized securities will retain their existing CUSIPs, rights and investor protections, while enabling 24/7 peer-to-peer transfers between registered wallets on the same blockchain. DTC will continue maintaining the official books and records. Conversion orders will be available during designated business hours, targeting processing times of 15 minutes or less. DTCC’s roadmap extends beyond tokenization to include on-chain settlement, collateral management, netting, digital cash and expanded corporate actions. The initiative establishes a phased pathway for integrating blockchain infrastructure into U.S. securities markets while preserving the existing central securities depository framework. @CantonNetwork | @The_DTCC | @BuildOnStellar | @Arc | @Circle

— Generation Infinity (@Genfinity) October 16, 2026

Two Launch Networks, Two More in 2027

DTCC chose a multi-chain approach from day one. At launch, the service runs on the Canton Network and on a private DTCC network built on Hyperledger Besu. Canton gives institutions a privacy-focused public network, while Besu gives DTCC a controlled environment it operates directly. Next, DTCC plans to add Stellar and Circle’s Arc in 2027. Notably, DTCC already sits among Arc’s founding validators, and Arc went live on mainnet in September. Meanwhile, the Stellar integration builds on a plan the two sides outlined in May. Taken together, these choices show DTCC wants reach across several ecosystems rather than a bet on one chain.

Take a closer look inside the DTCC Tokenization Service. From supported networks and eligible asset classes to launch capabilities and future expansion, our at-a-glance overview outlines the service and the path ahead. ➡️https://t.co/MFrJS1MMnF https://t.co/t3QWESzGeI

— Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (@The_DTCC) October 16, 2026

Same CUSIP, Same Rights, New Rails

The design keeps tokenized securities inside the legal structure investors already trust. Every tokenized security retains its existing CUSIP, the identifier that links an asset to reference data and settlement systems. Likewise, holders keep the same rights and investor protections they receive with the traditional version. DTC also continues to maintain the official books and records. In other words, the blockchain serves as a new transfer layer, while DTC remains the source of truth for ownership. Consequently, firms avoid the reconciliation headaches that arise when two competing ledgers claim the same asset. This structure also aligns with the SEC no-action letter that DTC received in December 2025.

24/7 Transfers and 15-Minute Conversions

The most visible change for market participants involves timing. Once firms tokenize a security, they can move it peer-to-peer around the clock between registered wallets. That capability matters because traditional securities transfers still follow business hours and batch cycles. However, transfers only work between wallets on the same blockchain, so cross-chain movement remains outside the initial scope. Conversion between traditional and tokenized form follows a different rhythm. Firms can submit conversion orders during designated business hours, and DTCC targets processing times of 15 minutes or less. Therefore, the service blends always-on token mobility with controlled entry and exit points into the depository.

Built on a Year of Testing

This announcement caps a steady sequence of regulatory and operational milestones. First, the SEC staff granted DTC three years of no-action relief in December 2025. That relief covered Russell 1000 equities, major index ETFs and U.S. Treasuries. Shortly after, DTCC partnered with Digital Asset to tokenize a subset of DTC-custodied Treasuries on Canton. Then, on July 15, more than 30 firms processed production trades with tokenized DTC assets across Canton and Besu. Participants included BlackRock, Citadel Securities, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Nasdaq and Vanguard. Those trades covered collateral pledges, securities lending, Treasury repo and equity delivery-versus-payment. Afterward, CEO Frank La Salla said DTCC brought “the same institutional rigor” to tokenization as traditional assets.

The Roadmap Points Toward Onchain Settlement

Tokenization represents only the first phase of DTCC’s plan. The published roadmap extends into onchain settlement, collateral management and netting. Additionally, DTCC lists digital cash and expanded corporate actions as future capabilities. Each item targets a core function that DTCC subsidiaries already perform for U.S. markets. Collateral stands out as a likely early win, since the July trades already tested real-time collateral movement. Brian Steele, DTCC’s president of Clearing and Securities Services, said those trades showed how tokenization “can enable real-time collateral mobility.” Digital cash could eventually close the loop by letting both legs of a trade settle onchain.

Why It Matters

DTCC is not building a parallel market. Instead, it is upgrading the plumbing that already settles nearly every U.S. securities trade. That approach lowers the adoption barrier for banks, brokers and asset managers. Firms can test tokenized workflows without abandoning CUSIPs, custody arrangements or established legal protections. Meanwhile, public networks like Canton, Stellar and Arc gain direct access to the deepest pool of regulated assets. The phased rollout means volumes will start small, with only 25 securities at launch. Still, the $30 trillion eligible pool shows how far DTCC expects this service to grow.

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