The New York Stock Exchange is working on a new platform that could let investors trade tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs at any time, day or night. The system blends its current trading infrastructure with blockchain tech to enable instant settlement and remove the limits of market hours. It’s not live yet, but if regulators give it the green light, the NYSE could be the first major exchange to offer nonstop trading on real equities. What This Platform Will Actually Do This isn’t about creating entirely n ...

Core Insights - The stock market is transitioning from traditional trading hours to a 24/7 model, driven by the rise of retail investors and the influence of cryptocurrency trading [2][3][4] Group 1: Market Structure Changes - Major U.S. exchanges like NYSE and Nasdaq are planning to extend trading hours to 22 and 24 hours respectively, reflecting a significant shift in market structure [3] - Retail investor participation now accounts for at least 20% of daily U.S. trading volume, indicating a growing influence of individual traders on market dynamics [3] Group 2: Impact of Retail Trading - The move towards continuous trading raises concerns about price volatility and market manipulation, questioning whether it will benefit everyday investors or increase their risks [4] - Brokerages such as Robinhood and Charles Schwab are already utilizing alternative trading systems to facilitate this shift, indicating a broader industry trend [4] Group 3: Behavioral Trends - The behavior of retail traders is evolving, with individuals increasingly treating financial markets as betting opportunities, influenced by real-time news and social media [5][6] - Blue Ocean Technologies reported a significant increase in overnight trading volume, highlighting the growing trend of retail investors engaging in trading based on immediate market events [6] Group 4: Comparison with Other Markets - The traditional trading day is becoming outdated as other markets like cryptocurrency and foreign exchange operate continuously, reflecting a broader demand for 24/7 trading [6][7] - Platforms like Polymarket demonstrate a strong appetite for turning various events into financial positions, suggesting a cultural shift in how people engage with financial markets [5][7]