The Boston Security Token Exchange (BSTX), a new facility of the Boston-based BOX exchange, received regulatory approval from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate as a blockchain-based securities exchange.
BSTX was launched jointly by BOX and Overstock’s blockchain arm tZERO, originally seeking approval for launching publicly-traded registered security tokens. However, the SEC approval to operate as a national securities exchange allows BSTX to use blockchain technology for faster settlements in traditional markets. According to the SEC,
“The Commission notes that the [BSTX] Exchange’s current proposal does not involve the trading of digital tokens and such a proposal, or any other additional use of blockchain technology.”
While the SEC has previously denied BSTX permission to offer crypto-focused services, the latest approval allows the facility to use a proprietary market data feed, BSTX Market Data Blockchain.
In addition, BSTX will also use blockchain technology to help investors experience faster transaction times on the same day (“T+0”) or the next day (“T+1”), instead of the standard two business-day (“T+2”) settlement cycle sported by traditional markets.
Along with the regulatory approval based on BSTX’s rule change proposals (SR-BOX-2021-06), the SEC placed four conditions for BOX in line with BSTX’s operations.
The requirement includes joining all relevant national market system plans related to equities…
