Blockchain-Powered Transparency Speeds Up the $18 Trillion Transformation in Tokenized Finance

In a significant step toward connecting conventional finance with decentralized platforms, FTSE Russell has joined forces with

to bring its flagship equity and digital asset indices onto blockchain networks. Announced through Chainlink's DataLink platform, this partnership marks the debut of FTSE Russell’s data—including the Russell 1000, Russell 2000, Russell 3000, and FTSE 100 indices—being made directly available on-chain. With more than $18 trillion in assets tied to these benchmarks, the integration is designed to speed up the adoption of tokenized finance and provide greater transparency for institutional participants, according to .

This project utilizes Chainlink’s DataLink, a high-grade data delivery service, to provide up-to-the-minute, tamper-resistant index information across more than 50 public and private blockchains. Through this system, over 2,000 applications within the Chainlink ecosystem can access FTSE Russell’s data at any time, paving the way for innovative financial products like tokenized ETFs and structured investments. FTSE Russell CEO Fiona Bassett highlighted that this move supports the company’s goal to “foster innovation in tokenized assets and advanced financial solutions,” pointing to DataLink’s secure and reliable distribution of benchmarks worldwide, as stated in the Chainlink press release.

Chainlink’s contribution to this alliance is crucial. Its oracle network, which has enabled transactions exceeding $25 trillion and secures close to $100 billion in DeFi total value locked (TVL), forms the backbone of DataLink’s dependability. Sergey Nazarov, Chainlink’s co-founder, described the partnership as a “milestone event,” stating that FTSE Russell’s on-chain indices will allow developers and institutions to confidently create “data-centric financial products and tokenized assets.” This integration also fits into the larger movement of institutional blockchain adoption, as demonstrated by collaborations like the U.S. Department of Commerce’s initiative to distribute macroeconomic data on-chain, mentioned in

.

This collaboration signals a rising need for reliable, regulated data in digital asset markets. With FTSE Russell’s indices tracking assets worth over $18 trillion, institutions now have access to a transparent, programmable alternative to conventional data sources. This development follows FTSE Russell’s previous forays into digital assets, such as its January 2025 partnership with SonarX to launch crypto indices and its 2023 alliance with Grayscale to segment the crypto market by sector, as reported by

.

Industry observers see this partnership as a driving force for the mainstream embrace of tokenized assets. Major players like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and BNY have already introduced tokenized money market funds, while Citigroup pointed to regulatory clarity as a crucial factor for blockchain adoption in April 2025, according to

. FTSE Russell’s on-chain data could further enhance processes such as instant settlement and interoperability between blockchains, supported by Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and Data Streams, as outlined in a .

Importantly, this initiative highlights the merging of public and private markets. By making index data available across blockchain networks, FTSE Russell and Chainlink are tackling the issues of fragmented data and reporting delays in private markets—a challenge previously addressed by FTSE Russell’s partnership with StepStone Group to introduce daily global private market indices, as noted in the

. This dual emphasis on transparency in both public and private markets positions FTSE Russell at the forefront of alternative asset indexing.

As institutional engagement with blockchain technology continues to rise, this partnership establishes a new benchmark for data reliability and accessibility. With Chainlink’s infrastructure facilitating smooth data integration, the financial sector may soon see a wave of innovative, blockchain-based financial products.