Investec becomes the first member of the BPX digital assets platform

• Investec is connecting its client trading platform Zebra-X to the BPX digital assets exchange

• The link will enable users of Zebra-X to trade digital asserts in the same way that they trade conventional debt and equity securities

• BPX aims to offer customers a full set of digital asset management, trading, settlement, custody and depository services

BPX, the London-based digital assets exchange that has already secured trading, asset management and custody licences from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is now progressing through the Digital Securities Sandbox run by the FCA and the Bank of England, to offer central securities depository (CSD) services as well, has secured its first member.

Investec, the London and Johannesburg-listed private bank and wealth manager, is connecting its ZebrA-X electronic trading platform to BPX. What’s has joined BPX as the first member of its digital securities marketplace.

The aim is to give clients access to digital assets, including tokenised securities and funds, via a familiar interface and set of workflows. The connection explicitly aims to bridges the gap between traditional securities and fund markets and digital asset markets.

“Markets are evolving quickly, but greater innovation can often mean greater complexity for investors,” explains Dominic Lowres, Head of Electronic Trading and Execution Strategy at Investec. “ZebraA-X is designed to simplify that landscape by giving clients efficient access to multiple venues and liquidity pools through a single connection, while preserving the trading workflows they know and trust. Joining BPX reflects Investec’s commitment to backing market infrastructure that can broaden access to new asset classes in a practical, transparent and client-focused way. By connecting BPX to ZebrA-X, we can help clients engage with emerging digital securities markets through a familiar execution environment.”

The success of the alliance depends of course on the ability of BPX to attract issuers. The initial focus of the exchange is on real estate funds.

“BPX was created to reimagine how capital markets operate by enabling the creation, issuance, settlement and trading of securities through modern digital infrastructure,” says Ali Celiker, Founder and CEO of BPX. “Achieving this vision requires forward-thinking institutions willing to engage with new market models and help shape the future. We are delighted to welcome Investec as the first member of BPX and look forward to working closely together as we continue building a securities marketplace that is out of the ordinary.”