DSDC Is Now A SEC-Registered Transfer Agent
Transfer agent registration strengthens DSDC’s governance framework, assuring institutional members and investors of a compliant, transparent, and efficient model for ADRs.
New York, April 15, 2025 — DSDC is pleased to announce that its registration as a transfer agent with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now effective. This registration enables DSDC to perform its functions in compliance with SEC regulations. This represents a foundational milestone in DSDC’s mission to govern a blockchain-based network of regulated financial institutions, providing an official regulatory status that will help unify its member firms under formal membership agreements.
By obtaining SEC registration as a transfer agent, DSDC gains a valuable regulatory status while maintaining its model of relying on members for all servicing. The company has clarified that it will not directly perform transfer agent services; instead, the license empowers DSDC to establish formal agreements and oversight mechanisms with qualified member firms that perform these services via the DSDC network.
Several major institutions are already part of the DSDC ecosystem—for example, a global custodian bank will serve to safeguard the underlying foreign shares for DSDC’s depositary receipts, a U.S. transfer agent has joined to offer its services on the platform, and FINRA-licensed broker is engaged to provide a layer of regulatory supervision across transactions on the network. With DSDC now an SEC-registered transfer agent itself, the organization can more effectively orchestrate among these partners under one compliant framework.
Achieving SEC registration is a key step for our member-governed network,” said Alistair Jones, CEO of DSDC. “Although we won’t handle day-to-day transfer agent duties, the license gives our stakeholders confidence in our high regulatory standards and enables stronger coordination with our partners.
With the regulatory foundation now in place, DSDC is advancing its core initiative: digitizing the lifecycle of securities such as unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S. market. Unsponsored ADR programs have long allowed U.S. investors to invest in foreign companies without direct involvement from the issuers, but traditional ADR processes can be cumbersome and opaque. DSDC’s platform aims to modernize this space by streamlining cross-border ownership records and transactions.
For its initial phase, DSDC is focusing on blue-chip UK equities—for example, creating ADRs for companies like London Stock Exchange Group and Group 3i—making these unsponsored offerings more accessible and cost-effective for U.S. investors. The ADR market, valued at roughly $1 trillion, offers a vast opportunity for DSDC’s network to demonstrate how increased automation and shared infrastructure can reduce fees and friction in international investing.
Today’s SEC approval also underscores the strength of the technology underpinning DSDC’s model. The network’s blockchain infrastructure, developed by UK-based KALYP Technologies, enables all member firms to jointly maintain and update securities records in real time on a distributed ledger. This institutional-grade platform provides the security, transparency, and efficiency required for handling digital securities at scale.
With its regulatory credentials reinforced and technology foundation in place, DSDC is poised to accelerate the rollout of its digital platform for ADRs. The addition of an SEC transfer agent registration deepens trust among industry stakeholders and clears a path for more financial institutions to join DSDC’s member-governed network. Together, DSDC and its partners aim to bring a new level of transparency, investor protection, and operational efficiency to cross-border capital markets.
About DSDC
DSDC offers a distributed market infrastructure delivering more efficient cross-border settlement of securities in digital format; initially unsponsored American Depositary Receipts. Any regulated financial institution with an existing service required across the lifecycle of ADRs is invited to apply and join DSDC to offer their security services. Thereby, DSDC offers existing firms to position their legacy services for the digital future. For more information, visit DSDC’s website at www.dsdc.net.
About KALYP Technologies
KALYP Technologies is a provider of enterprise software in the capital markets. Its distributed ledger-based software establishes smart market infrastructure for regulated financial institutions and enables more efficient processing of securities in digital format. The firm is independently financed and led by a group of securities industry veterans and distributed ledger technology experts with international presence between London and Boston. For more information, visit www.kalyp.com.
Note: Registration with the SEC does not imply endorsement by SEC.
