Capital Markets Digitization

Definition ∞ Capital markets digitization is the process of converting traditional financial market operations and assets into digital formats. This transformation involves leveraging blockchain technology, distributed ledger technology (DLT), and other digital innovations to streamline the issuance, trading, settlement, and custody of securities. It aims to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and broaden access to financial instruments by replacing legacy systems with digital infrastructure. The process can involve tokenizing real-world assets or creating entirely new digital securities.
Context ∞ The current state of capital markets digitization involves pilot programs and incremental adoption, particularly in private markets and securitized debt. Key debates address regulatory clarity, interoperability between new digital platforms and existing financial systems, and the legal recognition of tokenized assets. A critical future development is the widespread integration of digital securities into global financial infrastructure, potentially altering market structures significantly.