LSEG to Build Blockchain-Friendly Digital Settlement Platform
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) is building a blockchain-compatible digital settlement platform — a move that could materially reshape post-trade infrastructure in global capital markets. Rather than experimenting at the edges, LSEG is targeting the core plumbing of securities settlement, where trillions move daily. The initiative aims to support tokenized assets while maintaining compatibility with existing market structures, signalling a pragmatic bridge between traditional finance and distributed ledger technology. This is not a crypto-native startup — it’s one of the world’s most systemically important market infrastructure providers modernizing settlement rails. If successful, the platform could reduce settlement times, lower counterparty risk, and enable programmable asset workflows. It also strengthens the narrative that tokenization is shifting from pilot projects to production-grade infrastructure. For fintech founders and institutional players alike, this marks a decisive step toward digital capital markets becoming mainstream rather than experimental.
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How Fintechs Should Approach Stablecoins in 2026
In 2026, the most important thing for companies working with stablecoins will be controlling the stack underneath.
If your company started using stablecoins in the past year, you probably found an all-in-one provider like BVNK or Privy. Wallets, compliance, on/off-ramps, licensing - bundled under one roof.
This made sense. You could test stablecoin rails fast, open new payment corridors, find new business opportunities.
But as volumes grew, the limitations showed up:
❌ Can’t negotiate directly with liquidity providers
❌ Can’t choose your own AML partner
❌ Third-party fees compound at scale
You want more flexibility. But the platform that made it easy to start doesn’t offer that. And now your margins aren’t keeping up with your volumes. The black box is hurting your bottom line.
That’s why more fintechs are shifting to owning the stack. Providers like Fireblocks and Utila already give teams control over most core layers:
✅ MPC wallets with granular policy enforcement
✅ Integrated asset conversion tooling (ramps, swaps, bridges)
✅ Native compliance integrations you choose
What makes Utila particularly interesting is the Utila Link network - giving teams flexibility to choose counterparties and negotiate terms directly across on/off-ramps, liquidity providers, yield venue and more.
Still, licensing remains the hardest part.
In many regions, full authorization takes 12+ months - and waiting that long isn’t realistic. The most interesting models pair fast market entry with a path to autonomy: start under an existing licensed framework while building on infrastructure you’ll own long-term.
Solving this will be the key challenge for stablecoin infrastructure in 2026.
Worth watching this space.
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