By linking traditional brokerage and self‑custody models to a blockchain‑native registry, Figure accelerates settlement speed, reduces intermediaries, and opens institutional‑grade DeFi strategies to a wider retail base.
Figure’s Open‑Chain Public Equity Network (OPEN) is reshaping how public equities are issued and traded. By embedding equity tokens directly on a blockchain, OPEN eliminates the legacy clearing‑house bottleneck, delivering instant, T+0 settlement and 24‑hour market access. The recent partnerships with moomoo and Keplr illustrate a dual‑track strategy: moomoo brings a regulated brokerage interface to retail investors, while Keplr offers a self‑custody wallet that lets users hold and manage tokenized shares without a middleman. This hybrid approach lowers entry barriers and aligns with the growing demand for decentralized finance (DeFi) services tied to traditional assets.
Beyond speed, OPEN’s architecture integrates with a regulated Alternative Trading System (ATS), ensuring compliance with U.S. securities law while still leveraging blockchain’s transparency and immutability. Investors can now borrow against tokenized stocks or lend them out, tapping into institutional‑grade yield opportunities previously limited to large players. Real‑time settlement reduces counterparty risk and operational costs, and the single source of truth for ownership simplifies post‑trade processing. As more platforms adopt the protocol, the ecosystem could see a shift toward continuous, on‑chain settlement models that rival conventional exchanges.
The broader market implications are significant. Figure’s plan to list its own stock on OPEN signals confidence in the platform’s scalability and regulatory footing, potentially encouraging other issuers to follow suit. With $22 billion already originated in blockchain‑based loans, Figure is positioned to bridge the gap between legacy finance and emerging digital infrastructure. Analysts anticipate that such integrations will spur competition among broker‑dealers and wallet providers, driving innovation in custody solutions, token standards, and cross‑border trading. Ultimately, the convergence of brokerage services and self‑custody wallets could democratize access to public equity markets, fostering a more inclusive and efficient capital ecosystem.
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