21X Expands to U.S. with Blockchain-Based Exchange

21X, a firm recognized for its regulated on-chain trading and settlement services, has announced its entry into the United States with the incorporation of a new entity in Delaware and the establishment of a primary office in New York. This move represents a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion strategy and sets the stage for the launch of its U.S. blockchain-based exchange, envisioned as a fully regulated trading venue for digital financial instruments.

Strategic shift towards U.S. markets

The decision to expand into the U.S. comes amid growing interest from regulators and global financial institutions in exploring distributed ledger technology (DLT) for capital markets. The company held initial discussions with the U.S. Crypto Taskforce and the Securities and Exchange Commission, where it outlined its vision for a future capital market system defined by speed, transparency, and efficiency through blockchain infrastructure.

Executives from 21X indicated that the firm plans to build on its experience from Europe, where it launched its regulated digital exchange in September 2025 after obtaining the DLT TSS license. With this proven framework, the company intends to accelerate the process of applying for regulatory approvals in the U.S., which is considered a critical step to formally introducing its platform into the American financial landscape.

Promised benefits of the new platform

The forthcoming 21X U.S. exchange is being positioned as a transformative development for capital markets. The platform is expected to deliver multiple advantages, including the removal of traditional intermediaries by enabling near-instant peer-to-peer settlement within seconds. This capability is anticipated to compress workflows, reduce operational costs, and enhance efficiency across the system.

The exchange will also prioritize transparency by recording all trades on a public, permissionless blockchain, offering a new level of auditability and accountability to participants. Additionally, 21X aims to broaden market access by opening participation to a diverse range of users, including institutional investors, corporate clients, and other market participants who may have previously faced barriers to entry.

The company has emphasized that its U.S. exchange will support a wide variety of digital financial instruments. These will include tokenized equities, debt products, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, structured products, and other innovative instruments. By enabling tokenization, the platform intends to create new liquidity channels and investment opportunities in areas that were traditionally illiquid or inaccessible.

Building on European success

Leadership at 21X described the expansion as the next major step in the company’s growth trajectory. The successful launch of its European exchange was noted as a benchmark for regulated blockchain-based capital markets, with the firm now seeking to replicate this success in the United States. Executives highlighted that the U.S. market, as one of the world’s largest and most dynamic financial ecosystems, presents an opportunity to scale the benefits of on-chain trading to a broader global investor base.

The company has also framed its long-term strategy as one of bridging capital markets across regions by establishing blockchain-enabled exchanges that operate under strict regulatory oversight. By doing so, it aims to connect global investors and foster the adoption of digital assets within regulated environments.

Next steps for regulatory approval

As part of the process, 21X will soon submit its formal registration application to the SEC. The company has not yet provided a definitive timeline for the launch of its U.S. exchange but confirmed that further details will be shared in the near future.

Industry analysts suggest that the entry of a regulated blockchain exchange into the U.S. could reshape trading models, potentially redefining settlement standards and democratizing access to a broader spectrum of financial instruments.