Share Registry
Celebrate Australia Day with Computershare
UK capital markets are becoming more digital, integrated and data led. Dematerialisation, shorter settlement cycles such as T+1, stronger digital infrastructure and new ownership models are changing how issuers, investors and intermediaries interact. Tokenisation sits within this wider market shift. It is not just a technology trend; it is part of a long-term move towards more modern capital markets.
UK issuers can prepare today by asking how tokenisation may affect ownership, investor engagement and market competitiveness in the years ahead. Regulators, market participants and infrastructure providers are moving digital market initiatives from innovation towards implementation. We can help you understand what is changing, retain control and prepare for future opportunities.
Why is tokenisation the next step for a modernising market?
Tokenisation represents ownership using distributed ledger technology. Digital tokens represent an asset, such as a share or a cash denomination. It does not replace the principles that underpin capital markets. You’ll still need to maintain accurate ownership records, protect shareholder rights, fulfil governance responsibilities and meet regulatory requirements.
So, what is changing? Tokenisation may change how ownership information is recorded, transferred and accessed through digital infrastructure, depending on the model adopted. It sits alongside dematerialisation, digital shareholder communications and settlement modernisation. Together, these changes can support more efficient markets and help the UK remain a leading capital market.
What is tokenisation? Read our explainer.
Why is tokenisation receiving attention?
Tokenisation is attracting attention because governments, regulators and market infrastructure providers are exploring how digital technologies could modernise aspects of capital markets.
UK initiatives such as the Digital Securities Sandbox are helping firms test how digital securities and distributed ledger technology may be used within regulated market environments. Exchanges, custodians, asset managers and market infrastructure providers are also exploring how digital ownership and settlement models may develop alongside existing market structures.
Read our tokenisation glossary to learn about key terms, including the Digital Securities Sandbox.
Why should issuers care?
Tokenisation raises important questions for issuers about ownership, investor engagement and market infrastructure. Key areas to consider include:
Ownership information: future ownership models may make ownership information timelier and more accessible, depending on how they connect to recognised ownership records. - Shareholder engagement: digital ownership models may create new ways to communicate with and engage shareholders in digital environments.
- Investor access: future ownership models may give investors additional ways to access securities alongside traditional channels.
- Future market infrastructure: issuers may want to understand how evolving market infrastructure could affect investor relationships, servicing arrangements and governance processes.
Why issuers need to prepare today
UK market change is accelerating. Regulators are exploring how tokenised markets can develop at scale, investors expect digital-first experiences and new ownership models are emerging. Issuers also face growing expectations around governance, transparency, efficiency and shareholder engagement.
Waiting for tokenisation to become established may seem lower risk, but early preparation helps issuers retain control. Preparing now does not mean committing to a specific model. It means understanding ownership structures, investor expectations and market infrastructure so you can make informed choices later. Issuers also have the opportunity to engage with regulatory bodies to provide their insights and needs as market structure decisions are being made that will ultimately impact them. To further understand how you can be involved, please contact your relationship manager.
What are the benefits of tokenisation?
Tokenisation may deliver meaningful benefits across ownership, operations and investor engagement. Potential benefits include:
- Better ownership visibility, with more timely, transparent and traceable ownership records, depending on the tokenisation model
- Stronger shareholder engagement through more direct and digital-first interaction models
- Faster transactions and settlement, which can reduce operational friction
- Greater automation to support more efficient administration and corporate actions
- Broader investor participation through wider access for institutional and digitally native investors
- Potentially improved liquidity, where investor demand, platform adoption and more flexible transfer models support it
- Enhanced auditability to support governance and reporting requirements
- More consistent shareholder experiences through simpler digital interactions
- Greater operational efficiency through less complex ownership workflows
What are the risks in not preparing for tokenisation today?
Tokenisation is still developing, and there is no single path to adoption. Choosing not to engage with the conversation can still carry risks, including:
- Missed opportunities to improve efficiency and streamline ownership processes
- Less influence over future ownership models and how shareholder relationships are managed
- Greater risk of falling behind market expectations as competitors explore modern ownership and engagement models
- Reduced future optionality as new liquidity, fundraising and investor access models emerge
- More complexity later if issuers need to respond reactively rather than building readiness over time
What does this mean for issuers?
Issuers still face familiar questions. Who owns your shares? How do you engage with shareholders? How efficiently can investors buy and sell? How do you protect shareholder rights and remain in control? Tokenisation may help support these priorities, depending on how stakeholders design and implement the model.
How can Computershare help?
Computershare believes tokenisation can create new opportunities without compromising ownership integrity, regulatory confidence, shareholder rights or issuer control. Market structures will continue to evolve, and different operating models will emerge. Our role is to help you focus on what matters most, from ownership visibility to corporate actions and shareholder engagement.
We combine global market infrastructure experience, practical insight from issuer-sponsored tokens in the US and wider experience in market digitisation to help issuers understand their options. We can help you cut through complexity, assess the implications and choose the right path for your business.
We can help you approach tokenisation with confidence while strengthening governance, improving shareholder engagement and managing risk.
Visit our Tokenisation hub for more information.
Speak to an expert
Preparing for market change starts with understanding what it means for your business. Complete the form and one of our specialists will contact you.
