Share this article
Malta Stock Exchange Lays Groundwork for Blockchain Testing
Malta’s stock exchange is in the early stages of experimenting with blockchain-based trading.
By Stan Higgins
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 12:44 p.m. Published Dec 5, 2016, 5:11 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Malta’s stock exchange is in the early stages of experimenting with blockchain-based trading.
The exchange quietly announced late last month that it was forming an internal ‘Blockchain Committee’ to guide the development of a strategic roadmap for testing the tech. The committee will be composed of the exchange’s senior leadership and stakeholders, as well as as-yet-unnamed “outside experts”.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
The Malta Stock Exchange, which was founded in the early 1990s and reports a market capitalization of about €11bn, said it is also looking to create a broader working group in a bid to drive interest among the business sector in the island nation.
The exchange said in a statement:
“The Exchange will also soon unveil the Malta Stock Exchange Blockchain Consortium a think tank which will bring together experts from the Exchange’s stakeholders as well as from other organizations throughout Malta to share knowledge and perhaps joint venture on the design and implementation of blockchain applications.”
In taking these first steps, the Malta Stock Exchange joins the growing ranks of institutions like it worldwide looking at potentially integrating the tech into their systems or, in some cases, replacing it outright.
The most notable example is perhaps the Australian Securities Exchange, which in August unveiled a blockchain settlement prototype developed in partnership with Digital Asset Holdings, the startup led by former JPMorgan exec Blythe Masters. ASX has also moved to buy a stake in the startup, investing more than $17m to date.
Image via Shutterstock
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Bitcoin and ether volatility trading gets easier with Polymarket's new contracts
Polymarket has launched new prediction markets tied to Volmex's bitcoin and ether 30-day implied volatility indices.
What to know:
- Polymarket has launched new prediction markets tied to Volmex's bitcoin and ether 30-day implied volatility indices, allowing users to bet on how high volatility will get in 2026.
- The contracts pay out if volatility indices reach or exceed a preset level by Dec. 31, 2026, letting traders wager on the intensity of price swings rather than market direction.
- Early trading implies roughly a one-in-three chance that bitcoin and ether volatility will nearly double from current levels.
Top Stories
