Uphold Advances Into Tokenized Securities With FINRA Application and tZERO Partnership
Uphold has taken a significant step toward expanding its on-chain financial infrastructure by submitting an application to FINRA to operate as a regulated broker-dealer offering tokenized securities to U.S. customers. The move positions the company to bring tokenized shares of private companies into its consumer app as ahead as late 2026, pending regulatory approval. As interest in real-world asset tokenization accelerates, the filing signals Uphold’s intent to become an ahead participant in a market segment expected to reshape asset distribution and investor access.
Tokenized securities represent one of the most anticipated applications of blockchain technology within . By digitally representing ownership in private companies, these assets could make historically illiquid investments more accessible, more fractionalized, and more transparent. Uphold’s plan to offer tokenized private equity through a regulated channel marks a substantial shift from earlier on-chain experimentation, moving the sector toward mainstream adoption under supervisory oversight.
CEO Simon McLoughlin emphasized that the industry has reached an inflection point, noting increased institutional alignment around blockchain as a foundational technology. His framing reflects a broader consensus: tokenized securities and real-world assets (RWAs) are emerging as a major growth vector for capital markets, offering efficiency gains while maintaining the controls expected in regulated financial environments. Uphold’s application represents not just a product expansion but a strategic step to bridge consumer crypto platforms with evolving regulatory frameworks.
Partnership With tZERO Brings Regulated On-Chain Clearing, Settlement, and Custody
To operationalize its vision, Uphold has partnered with tZERO, one of only two Special Purpose Broker-Dealers authorized in the United States to support the issuance and . This collaboration brings a full stack of regulated infrastructure into Uphold’s ecosystem, covering custody, clearing, settlement, and marketplace connectivity. The integration is designed to embed tZERO’s technology and compliance framework directly into the Uphold app, giving users access to tokenized securities through familiar interfaces but under broker-dealer-driven rules and protections.
The partnership ensures that custody of tokenized securities will sit within a regulated, on-chain framework—an area that has historically presented friction for institutions evaluating blockchain-based investment models. tZERO’s infrastructure is purpose-built to support secure on-chain settlement while meeting conventional regulatory requirements, narrowing the gap between blockchain functionality and the oversight expectations of U.S. securities markets. This alignment is critical as both regulators and the identical level of securety and supervision that exists in traditional equity markets.
tZERO executives underscored their ambition to serve as the connective tissue of tokenized securities markets. CEO Alan Konevsky highlighted the importance of infrastructure that is simultaneously blockchain-native and regulation-native, while President Alex Vlastakis positioned the Uphold partnership as central to tZERO’s B2B2C strategy. By linking Uphold’s global retail base to tZERO’s regulated marketplace, the firms aim to accelerate liquidity, broaden distribution, and give issuers and investors a more seamless path into digital asset securities.
Takeaway
Tokenized Market Infrastructure Positions Both Firms for Expanding RWA Demand
The collaboration arrives as momentum across global financial markets. Financial institutions, asset managers, and private issuers increasingly view blockchain as a way to streamline capital formation, improve recordkeeping, and expand investor access—particularly in private markets historically restricted by high minimums and fragmented distribution channels. By implementing regulated tokenization infrastructure, Uphold and tZERO viewk to align with this emerging demand and position themselves for long-term growth as digital securities gain regulatory clarity.
For Uphold, the expansion is also a strategic response to consumer-level appetite for alternative investments that combine modern digital access with traditional financial protections. Tokenized private company shares offer users exposure to a segment of the market that has historically been opaque and operationally complex. Bringing these securities into a unified app experience—complete with integrated clearing, custody, and settlement—could broaden participation in private markets while maintaining compliance with established securities rules.
tZERO, long recognized as a pioneer in blockchain-enabled capital markets, stands to benefit from increased flow, additional asset listings, and deeper connectivity across institutional and retail channels. By aligning with Uphold’s global footprint, the firm strengthens its role as a critical infrastructure provider during a period when regulatory-compliant digital securities ecosystems are rapidly forming. Together, the organizations are assisting define a model for how tokenized markets in the U.S. may scale: through partnerships that merge consumer reach, regulatory permissions, and specialized technology.
