The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is exploring round-the-clock onchain trading through an alternative trading system (ATS) that is currently under development. Michael Blaugrund, an executive at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which acquired the NYSE in 2013, said the Avalanche blockchain currently meets many of the technical requirements being considered for the planned platform.

Blaugrund also said the NYSE and Avalanche teams are working closely together, putting the network in focus as the exchange develops the infrastructure for its planned onchain trading system.

The initiative could bring blockchain-based infrastructure into a market traditionally built around fixed trading sessions. Conventional equity trading on U.S. exchanges takes place during set daytime sessions—regular trading on the NYSE runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET—with activity halted overnight and on weekends. Under a 24/7 model, eligible assets on the planned platform would be able to trade beyond normal exchange hours, meaning market participants could respond to developments as they happen rather than waiting for the next session to open The project remains in development, but it highlights growing interest in combining established financial markets with blockchain technology.

The development drew attention after it was highlighted in a September 18, 2026 post from the account Wu Blockchain on X:

NYSE Plans to Enable 24/7 Onchain Trading Through Its In-Development ATS NYSE is exploring 24/7 onchain trading through an alternative trading system (ATS) currently under development. Michael Blaugrund of Intercontinental Exchange and NYSE said Avalanche meets many of the… pic.twitter.com/kiBPNmC7hG

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) September 18, 2026 — x.com

Blockchain Features Behind the Plan

Blockchain networks can provide features such as continuous settlement infrastructure and programmable assets. These capabilities could support financial markets that operate around the clock rather than being limited to traditional trading schedules.

However, the final structure and technology behind the ATS will depend on how development progresses, meaning key questions about the platform's ultimate design remain open.

Potential to Expand Market Access

The push toward NYSE onchain trading reflects a broader effort to explore how traditional securities markets can use blockchain infrastructure. An ATS can provide an alternative venue for trading securities outside a traditional exchange structure while remaining subject to applicable regulatory requirements—in the United States, such venues operate under the SEC's Regulation ATS framework. Combining such a platform with blockchain technology could open the door to new forms of tokenized trading and settlement, in which assets are represented as digital tokens on a blockchain.

For now, the NYSE platform remains under development. Market participants will be watching the role Avalanche ultimately plays, how the planned 24/7 trading model takes shape, and how open questions around asset eligibility and the platform's final design are resolved.