Stock Tokenization Development Services for Equity Platforms Built to Operate in Real Markets

SpaceDev designs and builds tokenized stock platforms for fintech companies, broker-dealers, and capital markets infrastructure teams that need production-grade equity tokenization, not a proof of concept. We cover the full technical stack: on-chain equity issuance, compliant smart contracts, investor portals, and secondary market integrations.

Or subscribe to our newsletter

What we build

What a Stock Tokenization Platform Requires, and What We Build

01

Equity token smart contracts

ERC-3643 / ERC-1400 issuance contracts with transfer restrictions and lifecycle logic

02

On-chain cap table management

Real-time ownership registry, corporate actions automation, shareholder records

03

KYC/AML and investor onboarding

Accreditation checks, identity verification, jurisdictional transfer controls

04

Custody and wallet infrastructure

Custodial and non-custodial models, hot/cold segregation, MPC wallet integrations

05

Dividend and corporate actions automation

On-chain distribution of dividends, rights issues, stock splits, and proxy voting

06

Issuer and investor portals

Dashboards, transfer requests, compliance reporting, and cap table views

07

Secondary market integrations

ATS connectivity, DEX listing support, OTC desk infrastructure

08

Oracle integrations

Chainlink Proof of Reserves, real-time price feeds, compliance data verification

The Two Tokenized Stock Models and When to Build Each

The architecture of a tokenized equity platform depends entirely on which model you are building. These are not interchangeable, and the wrong choice creates compliance exposure or liquidity problems that are expensive to fix post-launch.

Underlying asset

Equity-backed: Real shares held in regulated custody

Synthetic: No underlying share, price tracked via oracle

Investor rights

Equity-backed: Voting rights, dividends, legal claim on shares

Synthetic: Economic exposure only, no shareholder rights

Regulatory classification

Equity-backed: Security, subject to SEC / FINRA oversight

Synthetic: Varies, often derivative or complex financial product

Custody requirement

Equity-backed: Registered custodian or broker-dealer required

Synthetic: No custody needed, oracle and smart contract sufficient

DeFi composability

Equity-backed: Limited by compliance controls

Synthetic: High, can be used in lending, borrowing, perpetuals

Who builds this

Equity-backed: Broker-dealers, fintechs, regulated issuers

Synthetic: DeFi protocols, crypto-native platforms

Standard used

Equity-backed: ERC-3643, ERC-1400

Synthetic: ERC-20 with oracle integration

Most regulated financial companies need the equity-backed spot token model. DeFi-native projects typically build the synthetic model for permissionless access to equity price exposure. SpaceDev builds both, with the architecture driven by your regulatory environment and target user base.

Key Compliance Infrastructure for Tokenized Stock Platforms

Transfer Restrictions Enforced at the Contract Level

ERC-3643 (T-REX) enforces accreditation checks, jurisdictional restrictions, and investor allowlists directly in the smart contract. A transfer that does not meet the compliance criteria does not execute, regardless of who initiates it. This is the technical standard used by Securitize and Tokeny, and the platforms backing BlackRock and KKR tokenized funds.

On-Chain KYC/AML and Investor Accreditation

Every investor who holds tokenized equity must be verified before receiving a transfer. We integrate KYC/AML providers including Sumsub, Jumio, and Onfido into the onboarding flow, with accreditation status mapped to the on-chain identity layer.

Forced Transfer and Token Recovery Mechanisms

Regulated equity platforms require the ability to force transfer or freeze tokens in response to court orders, regulatory action, or investor offboarding. ERC-3643 includes these mechanisms natively.

Proof of Reserves and Custody Verification

For equity-backed token platforms, every token minted must correspond to a real share held in custody. We integrate Chainlink Proof of Reserves to provide on-chain verification of the custody backing ratio.

Stock Tokenization Tech Stack

Token Standards

ERC-3643 (T-REX), ERC-1400, ERC-20 with access controls

Networks

Ethereum, Polygon, Solana (SPL Token-2022), Avalanche, Base

Smart Contract Infrastructure

Solidity, Hardhat, Foundry, OpenZeppelin, upgradeable proxy patterns

Oracle and Data Infrastructure

Chainlink Proof of Reserves, price feeds, Pyth Network for Solana

KYC/AML and Identity

Sumsub, Jumio, Onfido, Polygon ID, W3C Verifiable Credentials

Custody Integrations

Fireblocks MPC, Anchorage, Copper, Gnosis Safe multi-sig

Secondary Market

ATS API integrations, DEX listing support, OTC desk infrastructure

How We Approach Stock Tokenization Development Projects

  1. Token Model and Compliance Scoping

    We define the token model (equity-backed vs. synthetic), the regulatory framework your platform operates within, the custody structure, and the KYC/AML requirements before any architecture decisions are made. Our Product Discovery service covers this scoping phase as a standalone engagement.

  2. Smart Contract Development

    We build the issuance contracts, transfer restriction logic, corporate actions mechanisms, and cap table registry using ERC-3643 or ERC-1400 depending on your requirements.

  3. Compliance Infrastructure and KYC Integration

    We build the identity layer, investor onboarding flows, and on-chain allowlist management that your compliance team will operate day-to-day, plus admin tooling for manual overrides and regulatory reporting exports.

  4. Custody and Oracle Integration

    We integrate the custody infrastructure appropriate to your model, including Proof of Reserves verification if you are building an equity-backed platform.

  5. Investor Portal, Issuer Console, and Secondary Market

    We build the product layer: investor dashboards, issuer consoles for cap table management and corporate actions, and the integrations required for your tokens to be tradeable on your target venues.

  6. Security Review and Pre-Launch Audit

    Every tokenized equity platform goes through structured security review before launch. Given the regulated nature of these systems, independent smart contract auditing through BlockAudit is strongly recommended.

Real Work, Real Results

Explore our portfolio to see the engineering behind the platforms we've shipped.

See Our Work

Frequently Asked Questions

What is stock tokenization?

Stock tokenization is the process of representing company shares as digital tokens on a blockchain. Each token corresponds to ownership rights, economic exposure, or both, depending on the model. Equity-backed tokens represent a direct claim on real shares held in regulated custody. Synthetic tokens track stock prices via oracle feeds without holding the underlying security.

What is the difference between ERC-1400 and ERC-3643 for stock tokenization?

Both standards are designed for compliant security token issuance on Ethereum and EVM networks. ERC-1400 was the earlier standard developed by Polymath, providing a framework for transfer restrictions and document management. ERC-3643 (T-REX), developed by Tokeny, is now the more widely adopted standard among institutional-grade platforms: it is the foundation used by Securitize, which manages tokenized funds for BlackRock, Apollo, and KKR. Most new equity token platforms default to ERC-3643 today.

Do tokenized stocks give holders the same rights as traditional shareholders?

It depends on the model. Issuer-sponsored tokens, where the company itself tokenizes its own shares, can convey the same voting rights, dividend entitlements, and legal claim as traditional shares. Third-party equity-backed tokens, issued by a platform holding shares in custody, typically provide economic exposure but not voting rights. Synthetic tokens provide neither, only price exposure.

What regulatory approvals are needed to launch a tokenized stock platform?

Requirements vary by jurisdiction and model. In the US, equity-backed platforms typically require the issuer or token operator to be an SEC-registered transfer agent or work with one, and secondary trading may require an ATS license or broker-dealer registration. We build the technical infrastructure your legal team defines. We do not provide legal or regulatory advice. For regulatory guidance on tokenized securities, the SEC's Crypto Task Force is a useful reference for US-based platforms.

Can tokenized stocks be traded on DeFi protocols?

Equity-backed tokens with compliance controls can be structured for DeFi composability while maintaining transfer restrictions. Platforms like Ondo Finance and xStocks (Backed Finance) have demonstrated this at scale, with tokens usable in liquidity pools on Solana. The technical implementation requires careful design of the compliance layer to allow DeFi interaction while still enforcing KYC/AML restrictions.

How long does it take to build a tokenized stock platform?

A focused MVP with issuance contracts, KYC onboarding, and an investor portal can be ready in 10 to 16 weeks. Full platforms with custody integrations, corporate actions automation, and secondary market connectivity require a longer scoping phase first. Our Product Discovery process gives you accurate timelines before any development commitment.

Build Your Stock Tokenization Platform with SpaceDev

The infrastructure for on-chain equity markets is being built now, by NYSE, Nasdaq, BlackRock, and the development teams that support them. If your company is building in this space, the technical and compliance complexity is real, but it is solvable with the right partner.

Product Development that Sparks Innovation