The role of blockchain in modernising stock markets

The Antwerp Stock Exchange began trading in 1460, and the oldest stock market in the world still in existence is Amsterdam having been established in 1611 to create shares to be traded for the Dutch East India company. These days, financial transactions occur on official exchanges and over-the-counter (OTC) stock markets and are subject to rules and regulations which have been developed over many years to give investors both confidence in the integrity of the financial markets and to protect those who buy and sell on the stock markets. The total value of all stock markets globally is $93+trillion, and the New York Stock Exchange is the largest stock market in the world with a capitalisation of over $27trillion. However, the stock exchange which has the most listed companies is in Japan.

Largest stock market by number of listed companies

Source: Money Transfer.com

Blockchain’s significance in the modernisation of the stock market is conceivably quite substantial, with its  distributed, se…