Nasdaq, in collaboration with its technology partner Chain, is to provide distributed ledger technology (DLT) for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for SIX Swiss Exchange’s OTC structured products business.

The solution will integrate with several systems currently managed by SIX and utilise the DLT capabilities at the core of the Nasdaq Financial Framework, Nasdaq's next-generation enterprise architecture stack. With the MVP, SIX gains first-hand experience regarding the implementation of a DLT solution and investigating how to leverage blockchain technology for SIX and its members in the post-trade environment.  
 
"We are always keen to explore innovative technologies which could serve as basis for wider commercial offering," says Chris Landis (pictured), Division CEO SIX Swiss Exchange. "Working together with Nasdaq reinforces our commitment towards being an exchange at the technology forefront." 
 
"Nasdaq is a strong believer in the power of emerging technologies to transform financial markets," says Lars Ottersgård, Executive Vice President and Head of Market Technology, Nasdaq. "This project with SIX Swiss Exchange, one of our long-term partners, is a prime opportunity to explore and implement blockchain technology in a controlled, highly collaborative environment."
 
In October 2016, Nasdaq and SIX Swiss Exchange extended their current technology contract, which includes trading technology for SIX equities, ETFs, structured products, funds and fixed income markets, as well as SMARTS Market Surveillance and Nasdaq Pre-Trade Risk Management. The two companies have been partners for more than 10 years. 
 
Nasdaq's market infrastructure technologies, including trading, real-time risk, index, clearing, CSD and market surveillance systems are operated in over 100 marketplaces, regulators, clearing houses and central securities depositories across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.