Payward, the parent company of Kraken crypto exchange, has partnered with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to advance the tokenization of UK-listed equities. The collaboration will bring shares of the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange to blockchain-based markets through Payward’s xStocks platform. The tokenized equities are expected to become available as xStocks in the coming weeks. This move will provide eligible investors across more than 110 countries with 24/7 on-chain access to UK equity exposures.

xStocks to Bring UK Equities On-Chain

xStocks are tokenized representations of publicly traded securities. These are generally backed on a 1:1 basis by the corresponding underlying assets. The structure enables features such as fractional ownership, continuous trading, and blockchain-based settlement outside traditional stock market hours. Payward said the xStocks ecosystem has already generated tens of billions of dollars in cumulative trading volume across U.S.

The upcoming UK-focused offering will expand the availability of tokenized equity exposure while connecting traditional listed securities with blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

London Stock Exchange Eyes xStocks Listing in 2027

As part of the partnership, the London Stock Exchange plans to list the xStocks on its proposed LSE 24 venue. LSE 24 is a planned 24-hour trading platform that will be launched in 2027. The initiative remains subject to regulatory approval.

Payward and the LSE also plan to explore the development of native on-chain equity tokens. These assets could be designed to provide shareholders with rights, protections, and governance standards.

Despite the focus on UK-listed companies, the xStocks will not currently be available to investors in the United Kingdom because of geographic and regulatory restrictions. Further details regarding the specific equities, supported blockchain networks, and rollout schedule are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The partnership highlights the growing convergence between traditional stock markets and blockchain technology. Exchanges and financial institutions are exploring tokenization as a way to provide more continuous, programmable, and globally accessible exposure to traditional assets.