Ironlight Secures FINRA Approval for First U.S. Atomic On-Chain Settlement Platform

Ironlight Markets, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer and subsidiary of Ironlight Group Inc., has received regulatory approval to operate an alternative trading system (ATS) in the United States that supports trading of both traditional and tokenized securities with atomic on-chain settlement. This makes Ironlight the first U.S. regulated venue publicly cleared to offer atomic on-chain settlement for securities, a model that eliminates the time lag and intermediary steps typical of conventional post-trade processes.

In atomic settlement, the transfer of the security and payment occur in a single, indivisible on-chain transaction, enabling trades to clear and settle in real time, effectively achieving T+0 settlement. Matthew Celebuski, President of Ironlight Group Inc., stated, "Our ATS clears and settles trades in a single atomic event—instantly and securely. It’s the infrastructure that allows institutions to finally access the benefits of tokenization without compromising on regulatory standards." The platform combines a centralized order book with instant, blockchain-native settlement, delivering sub-20-microsecond matching speeds and removing the need for separate clearinghouses or custodial intermediaries.

The ATS will initially target institutional participants in private credit, venture capital, and other alternative investments, while maintaining compliance, custodial, and AML standards expected of a FINRA-regulated venue. This approval underscores growing regulatory openness to blockchain-based market infrastructure, with recent U.S. guidance clarifying that registered trading venues may offer tokenized products under existing securities frameworks. If scaled, atomic settlement could reshape liquidity and counterparty risk in private-market trading by shortening funding cycles and reducing capital locked in settlement buffers. Ironlight plans to onboard institutional clients first before expanding offerings broadly.