US broker-dealer Alpaca has received approval to become a full member of the Nasdaq exchange. This will give the brokerage direct connectivity to the U.S. equity market as it continues to build out its in-house trading infrastructure.
Join IG, CMC, and Robinhood in London’s leading trading industry event!
The move advances Alpaca’s goal of operating as a full-stack brokerage with control over execution, clearing, and settlement. Nasdaq membership enables Alpaca to connect directly to the exchange’s order book, providing access to deeper liquidity and a wider range of order types.
The firm said the approval will also improve order routing efficiency and execution transparency for its brokerage partners and clients.
- US Broker Alpaca Wins Options and Fixed Income Clearing Memberships
- Alpaca Names Former Upvest And Wise Exec as New Technology Chief
Part of a Broader Infrastructure Strategy
The exchange approval follows a series of regulatory clearances that strengthen Alpaca’s position in the U.S. market. The company recently joined the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation and the Options Clearing Corporation and already holds clearing status with the DTCC.
“Our Nasdaq membership demonstrates Alpaca’s maturity and advancement in the financial markets, highlighting the expanding range of trading products we can deliver, connecting our users directly to one of the world’s most important equity markets,” commented Tony Lee, Global Head of Brokerage at Alpaca.
Focus on Full Control of Trading Stack
Alpaca said the Nasdaq membership supports its strategy of reducing reliance on third-party intermediaries. Through direct exchange access and self-clearing operations, it seeks to retain operational control and offer faster market access to partners.
You may also find interesting: VT Markets Scores Sponsorship Deal with Portuguese Football Federation
Lately, Alpaca has been focusing on enhancing the equities market with blockchain technology. The broker recently launched the Instant Tokenization Network to enable institutional investors to convert U.S. equities into blockchain-based tokens and redeem them back into traditional shares at any time.
The technology allows tokenization to occur 24/7, beyond standard Wall Street trading hours, aiming to connect traditional financial markets with blockchain-based trading environments. The announcement came at a time when tokenized assets are gaining renewed industry interest.
The launch of ITN includes initial institutional partners such as Backed (xStocks), Dinari, DRW, and Ondo Finance. A key feature of ITN is its support for “in-kind” minting and redemption of tokenized stocks. This allows institutions to exchange equities directly for tokenized versions without converting to cash, reducing transaction time and cost.
