Fireside Friday with SDX's David Newns
An extended interview on the migration from traditional to blockchain-based infrastructure and the market's flight to quality after the FTX collapse.
In the press
Independent coverage of David Newns and SIX Digital Exchange.
Trade press, national media and primary announcements covering David Newns's work at SIX Digital Exchange and State Street. The nine pieces below are the strongest starting point; the fuller archive continues beneath, organised by theme.
Featured
Ten pieces that matter
The deepest interviews and the most consequential milestones, drawn from tier-one and specialist outlets.
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Swiss National Bank and SDX Delve Deeper Into CBDCs, Tokenized Securities
Direct interview quotes on the results of Project Helvetia III and why central bank money remains the preferred settlement asset.
Citi, Switzerland's SDX Join Forces to Tokenize $75B Pre-IPO Shares Market
An extended interview on the strategy behind tokenising a pre-IPO shares market estimated at 75 billion US dollars.
The Swiss Franc Is Being Tokenized
Sole interview subject, setting out the case for tokenising the Swiss franc itself.
Why the Swiss wholesale CBDC pilot with SDX is groundbreaking
The definitive technical explainer of the pilot, built directly on his commentary.
SIX Digital Exchange surpasses CHF 1 billion on exchange with World Bank bond
Marks the exchange passing CHF 1 billion in issuance on the back of the World Bank's digital bond.
Citi and SDX Partner to Tokenise Pre-IPO Equities for Institutional Investors
A dedicated interview on the mechanics and rationale of the Citi private markets partnership.
UBS native digital bond launched on SIX Digital Exchange and SIX Swiss Exchange
An exclusive comment on the first native digital bond issued by a bank on regulated financial market infrastructure.
SIX and Pictet complete pilot to tokenise and fractionalise financial assets
Announces the first fractionalisation of a financial asset completed on a regulated FMI.
Wholesale CBDC and Central Bank Money
Central bank money on regulated infrastructure
Coverage of Project Helvetia and the wholesale CBDC settlement pilots run with the Swiss National Bank.
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Swiss Digital Bonds Settled with Wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency
Reports the Lugano and St Gallen bond settlements carried out in wholesale CBDC.
SIX collaborates with the Swiss National Bank to pilot wholesale CBDC issuance
Announces the launch of the Helvetia III pilot with participating commercial banks.
Switzerland's central bank launches wholesale CBDC pilot with UBS
Covers the pilot's launch and UBS's role as a participating bank.
SDX Tests Settling Digital Assets with CBDC
Covers the SNB test and the sector's post-FTX shift toward central bank money as a settlement asset.
Tokenisation and Digital Securities
Digital bonds and tokenised markets
Coverage of the digital bond programme, from the first UBS issuance through to the Citi private markets partnership.
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SDX and Banque Pictet & Cie conclude joint pilot project
Covers the Pictet fractionalisation pilot from the custody and asset servicing angle.
Citi and SDX Join Forces to Unlock Access to Tokenized Private Market Assets
The banks' own announcement of the pre-IPO tokenisation partnership.
Citi, SDX Plan Q3-2025 Tokenized Pre-IPO Share Launch
Reports the planned launch timeline for the tokenised pre-IPO share offering.
FINMA green lights blockchain euro bonds, digital euro on SIX Digital Exchange
Covers FINMA's approval to expand issuance into euro-denominated instruments.
Swiss city of Lugano issues blockchain bond
Covers the municipal bond from a public-sector finance perspective.
City of Lugano Issues First Native Digital Bond
Reports the CHF 100 million municipal bond, the first of its kind on regulated FMI.
UBS launches world's first native digital bond with dual listing
The exchange's own announcement of the CHF 375 million UBS bond.
UBS issues blockchain-based bond on SIX Digital Exchange
Sets the UBS issuance in the context of the broader digital bond market.
Market Structure and Institutional Adoption
Appointments, milestones and market structure
Coverage of his appointment at SIX Digital Exchange and the exchange's institutional milestones.
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World Bank partners with Swiss National Bank and SIX Digital Exchange
The World Bank's own announcement of its CHF 200 million digital bond, settled in wholesale CBDC.
SIX Digital Exchange hires top trading exec from State Street as new CEO
Reports his appointment as CEO and the mandate he was given.
State Street's Newns takes over as CEO of SIX Digital Exchange
Covers the appointment and his move from State Street.
Custody and Collateral
Custody and collateral
Coverage of SIX Digital Exchange's role as custodian for institutional counterparties.
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SIX Digital Exchange provides digital asset custody for RULEMATCH clients
Covers the custody arrangement and the separation of trading and custody roles.
Earlier career
State Street and Currenex
Coverage from his time running Currenex and FX Connect, before SIX Digital Exchange.
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State Street Currenex to support launch of institutional interbank crypto platform
Reports Currenex's role in the Pure Digital institutional crypto trading initiative.
2018 began with a bang for Currenex and FX Connect
Covers both platforms' early positioning ahead of MiFID II.
FX Connect partners with BestX on TCA
Reports the transaction cost analysis integration between FX Connect and BestX.
FX Connect, Currenex Platforms Garner FCA Approval to Operate as MTFs
Covers the FCA's approval of both platforms as multilateral trading facilities under MiFID II.
State Street appoints new Global Heads for Currenex and FX Connect
Names him in his new global leadership role across both platforms.