21X - the first licensed DLT trading and settlement system (DLT TSS) in Europe - today announced an extension to its collaboration with Apex Group (“Apex”), under which the global financial services provider will act as the first official listing sponsor on 21X, leveraging Apex’s pioneering position as an innovator in the fund services industry.
This collaboration will facilitate the listing of eligible tokenized funds on 21X‘s on-chain market infrastructure. This step follows the announcement in September 2024 that 21X will be the European exchange of choice for Apex for the listing of its clients’ tokenized securities. 21X is the first and only distributed ledger technology trading and settlement system (DLT TSS) fully regulated in the European Union (EU).
Max Heinzle, CEO of 21X, stated:
"We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Apex - a recognized leader in financial services - to streamline the listing process for issuers on our innovative digital asset exchange. This collaboration with Apex underscores our commitment to creating a secure, efficient, and compliant platform for tokenized funds.”
Heinzle added:
"Apex’s expertise and established connections will be vital in the process to list a range of financial instruments on 21X as we prepare for launch. Apex’s role as a listing sponsor will ensure that issuers have the support they need to navigate the listing process, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency."
Peter Hughes, Founder and CEO of Apex Group, said:
"We are pleased to be working with 21X to facilitate the listing of our clients’ tokenized financial instruments, permissible on the first DLT trading and settlement system in Europe. This strategic action will allow a new group of investors to access institutional funds and securities that were previously unavailable to them in traditional formats.”
Hughes concluded: "We look forward to leveraging our expertise to support issuers looking to participate in this pioneering digital asset ecosystem."
With the upcoming launch of 21X, the coming weeks will see a wave of strategic partnerships. Beyond expanding its network of listing sponsors, 21X is set to announce agreements with leading institutional trading participants, asset managers, and market makers and crypto exchanges, alongside distribution networks such as ERP systems providers.
These collaborations reflect strong industry momentum and will provide these partners with a significant first-mover advantage in the developing DLT-based capital markets.
Backed by leading institutions, 21X offers direct trading between banks, brokers, crypto exchanges, corporates and market makers of tokenized securities to issuers, traders, and asset managers. This is undertaken on a trusted venue with natively tokenized financial instruments, offering participants unparalleled cost efficiencies and atomic settlement. The ecosystem integrates stablecoin providers, treasurers, custodians, and listing sponsors to drive secondary market liquidity and regulatory compliance.
About 21X
21X is a Frankfurt-based financial institution at the forefront of revolutionizing capital markets through the use of blockchain technology. In December 2024, 21X secured a license to operate its groundbreaking distributed ledger technology (DLT) trading and settlement system (DLT TSS) trading venue, a milestone that places the company as a leader in the transition to digital finance. The company is ideally positioned to enable smart contract-based issuance, trading and settlement of tokenized stocks, bonds and funds.
21X exchange is set to launch in the spring of 2025, bringing the future of capital markets to life.
See the short explainer video on 21X and our blockchain-based exchange here.
For more information on 21X, contact:
Richie MacTaggart, head of PR & marketing
Mail: press@21X.eu
Mob: +44 7828173419
Web: https://www.21x.eu/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/21x/
About Apex Group
Apex Group is dedicated to driving positive change in financial services while supporting the growth and ambitions of asset managers, allocators, financial institutions, and family offices. Established in Bermuda in 2003, the Group has continually disrupted the industry through its investment in innovation and talent.
Today, Apex Group sets the pace in fund and asset servicing and stands out for its unique single-source solution and unified cross asset-class platform which supports the entire value chain, harnesses leading innovative technology, and benefits from cross-jurisdictional expertise delivered by a long-standing management team and over 13,000 highly integrated professionals.
Apex Group leads the industry with a broad and unmatched range of services, including capital raising, business and corporate management, fund and investor administration, portfolio and investment administration, ESG, capital markets and transactions support. These services are tailored to each client and are delivered both at the Group level and via specialist subsidiary brands.
The Apex Foundation, a not-for-profit entity, is the Group’s passionate commitment to empower sustainable change.
For more information on Apex, contact:
Chanel Townsend | Head of media relations
Mail: Chanel.Townsend@apexgroup.com
Mobile: +447391046830
