ICE, Parent of the NYSE, Weighs Avalanche as Blockchain Backbone for a 24/7 On-Chain Trading Venue

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), owner of the New York Stock Exchange, is evaluating Avalanche as the blockchain infrastructure for a 24/7 on-chain trading platform now under development, according to remarks from ICE/NYSE's Michael Blaugrund. Blaugrund said ICE is actively engaging with the Avalanche team as part of its review of potential technology stacks for an Alternative Trading System (ATS). In a quote reposted by Avalanche's official account on September 17, 2026, he singled out Avalanche as a strong contender: "As we've evaluated different platforms, Avalanche checks a lot of those boxes for us, so we're very engaged with the team." The ATS remains in the buildout phase and has no announced launch date. An ATS is a regulated trading venue that matches buyers and sellers outside traditional exchanges. Moving such a venue on-chain could enable ICE to offer round-the-clock securities trading, a capability traditional market infrastructure typically cannot support. If selected, Avalanche would function as the system's settlement and execution layer, potentially bringing institutional equity-market activity onto the network. Avalanche has positioned itself as enterprise-ready, emphasizing its subnet architecture, which supports customizable blockchains with tailored rule sets—a feature relevant for regulated platforms that need compliance controls. No formal partnership has been announced. Blaugrund's comments describe an evaluation in progress rather than a final decision. ICE has not issued a formal statement, and Avalanche has not confirmed a signed agreement. More information on the ATS timeline, structure, and any ultimate blockchain selection remains pending. Frequently Asked Questions What is an Alternative Trading System (ATS), and why is it relevant here? An ATS is a SEC-regulated trading venue that matches buyers and sellers outside traditional exchanges such as the NYSE. Putting an ATS on a blockchain could allow ICE to offer 24/7 securities trading, which conventional market infrastructure typically cannot deliver. Has ICE officially chosen Avalanche for its ATS platform? No. As of September 17, 2026, Blaugrund characterized Avalanche as a strong candidate and confirmed active engagement with its team, but no contract or formal selection has been announced. What role would Avalanche play if ICE selects it? Avalanche would provide the blockchain infrastructure for ICE's on-chain ATS, handling settlement and execution and potentially exposing the network to institutional securities trading volume. Source: Avalancheavax · Published by CoinsProbe Markets Desk