Tokenised Equity: The Future of Company Shares on Blockchain
Companies can now issue equity as blockchain tokens. Here is how tokenised equity works, who is using it, and what it means for investors and founders.
Tokenised equity puts traditional company shares on a blockchain. Instead of a share register managed by a registrar, ownership is recorded on-chain. This enables 24/7 secondary markets, fractional ownership of private companies, and programmable shareholder rights — all in a self-custodial wallet.
How Tokenised Equity Works
- Company works with a licensed security token issuer (tZERO, Securitize, Republic)
- Shares are "tokenised" — each blockchain token represents one share (or fraction)
- Token holders have the same legal rights as traditional shareholders — dividends, voting, capital distribution
- Secondary trading: tokens trade on regulated security token exchanges with real-time settlement
- No transfer agent required: blockchain is the record — transfers settle instantly
Who Is Using It
- European mid-market companies: raising from global investors without US broker requirements
- Luxury real estate: tokenising trophy assets for fractional institutional ownership
- VC fund LP interests: tokenising fund shares for easier secondary transfer
- Startup equity: some startups issue SAFTs/SAFEs as tokens from day one
- Sports clubs: fan token programmes with real equity in supporting infrastructure
For Investors
Tokenised equity provides something traditional private equity cannot: liquidity. Instead of waiting 7-10 years for an exit, you can sell your tokenised startup equity on a regulated secondary market after lock-up expires. The secondary market for tokenised private equity is still thin in 2026, but growing rapidly as more issuances mature. Steyble's wallet supports holding and transferring security tokens where regulatory frameworks permit.