Payward Brings Tokenized London Stocks to Crypto Markets

Payward is set to launch tokenized versions of London's top 100 stocks within weeks, covering companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. The initiative, which will allow investors from over 110 countries to participate, comes as a result of Payward's partnership with the exchange.

The tokenized shares, dubbed xStocks, are not actually shares themselves but rather wrappers that track the performance of the underlying stocks. Each xStock represents one share and can be transferred or used in wallets or on-chain apps 24/7. However, holders will not have voting rights or access to actual physical stock certificates.

The launch marks a significant step towards bringing traditional financial markets into the cryptocurrency space. Payward has already cited $40 billion in cumulative xStocks trading volume and claims that tokenized stocks hold around $607 million in value, with Ondo Finance holding the largest share of this figure.

The London Stock Exchange itself plans to introduce a 24/5 venue for exchange-traded products by late 2026 and equities in 2027. However, it is unclear when or if tokenized shares will be listed on the actual exchange.