Nasdaq Announces Inaugural Client List for Linq
Nasdaq, the pioneer of electronic stock markets and home to over 3,600 companies for a market value of $8.8 trillion, has announced the first clients for Nasdaq Linq. First introduced in May, Nasdaq Linq will be the first platform of its kind, a “digital ledger technology that leverages a blockchain to facilitate the issuance, cataloging and recording of transfers of shares of privately held companies.”
The list of clients includes Chain, ChangeTip, PeerNova, Synack, Tango, and Vera, all successful startups that could benefit greatly from Nasdaq Linq. Powered by Chain, a blockchain technology provider as well as one of the initial clients using the platform, Linq was also developed by the company’s in-house technologists.
“Chain is thrilled to be powering Nasdaq Linq and to be an inaugural client of this innovative new platform,” said Adam Ludwin, CEO of Chain.com. “We are excited to leverage Nasdaq Linq to issue and manage our company’s securities in a more efficient and transparent way.”
Linq will also work in tandem with Nasdaq Private Market’s ExactEquity, a “cloud-based capitalization tablet management and stock plan administration solution.”
“We are extremely encouraged by the initial demand for Nasdaq Linq from these innovative, first-mover companies, and the validation it represents of our application of blockchain technology,” said Bob Greifeld, CEO of Nasdaq. “Blockchain applied to the private market is innovation built on top of innovation, and carries with it the opportunity to forever alter the future of financial services infrastructure.”
Next on Nasdaq’s list regarding their blockchain initiative is a proof-of-concept to “manage proxy voting via blockchain technology in Estonia,” which could provide major benefits to that country since up to 25 percent of voters cast their ballots online, making it the only country in the world to rely on internet voting for national elections on such a large scale.
Nasdaq has also announced that it will be showcasing Linq and its starting line-up of companies at at this year’s Money 20/20 event in Las Vegas.
