The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) announced on November 9 that the European Union is seeking nominations for a new Tokenisation Standards Group. Applications must be submitted by November 27, 2026.
Purpose of the group
The initiative focuses on practical coordination across the financial system for tokenised assets. While blockchain can record transfers quickly, legal and operational aspects such as ownership rights, payments, custody, corporate actions and reporting still require consistent processes.
Why standards matter
When issuers, custodians and trading venues use differing methods, integration becomes complex. Common standards aim to reduce duplicated work, make it easier for supervised firms to compare systems, and clarify responsibilities when issues arise. The effort does not eliminate risk but seeks to make the infrastructure of tokenised markets more predictable.
Context within global developments
Similar initiatives are emerging elsewhere, such as the New York Stock Exchange’s proposed tokenised‑securities venue and Securitize’s multi‑network tokenisation services. These examples highlight the need for interoperability across technical environments.
What the announcement does not imply
The call for nominations does not constitute EU approval of all tokenised assets, nor does it replace existing securities law or select a specific blockchain platform. It is an early‑stage process intended to gather stakeholder input.
Next steps
After the nomination deadline, ESMA will consider the candidates and define the group’s composition and priorities. The outcomes will indicate which practical standards could be developed for tokenised finance in Europe.
