Horizon Fintex

What Horizon Fintex does

Horizon Fintex (legal entity Horizon Globex GmbH, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland with a U.S. office in New York) is a private blockchain fintech company founded in 2019 that builds infrastructure for compliant tokenized securities issuance and secondary trading. The company offers an integrated five-product software suite — ETSware (digital securities issuance and securitization), KYCware (investor onboarding and KYC compliance), AMLcop (sanctions/PEP/watchlist AML screening), Custodyware (cap table management and dividend payments), and OpenOrderBook (secondary market exchange technology) — built on Ethereum Layer-2 infrastructure with smart-contract-enforced trading rules (no short selling, no payment for order flow) and complemented by native iOS (Swift) and Android (Java/Kotlin) SDKs. Horizon's technology is deployed at scale through a joint venture with MERJ Exchange Ltd. to power Upstream, a regulated global stock exchange for digital securities offering primary and dual listings to issuers worldwide.

Horizon generates revenue through a mix of software licensing to issuers and enterprises (e.g., the 2026 BCII Enterprises licensing agreement for the Coupon Token ecosystem), platform services to MERJ Exchange for the Upstream market, and partnership-based share-exchange arrangements (e.g., a $3.75M share exchange with Diamond Lake Minerals in 2024). The go-to-motion combines direct enterprise sales to public companies and exchanges, channel partnerships with SEC-regulated transfer agents (Vertalo, Equity Stock Transfer), securities firms (Boustead Securities, Westmount Capital), and a media/regulator-engagement program anchored by the annual Dialogue with the Regulators forum co-hosted with RSM US LLP. Customer segments span public and pre-IPO issuers pursuing dual listings, retail investors using the Upstream mobile/web trading app, regulated exchanges and ATS operators licensing the technology stack, and transfer agents needing digital securities infrastructure.

The company has 11–50 employees, operates dual offices in Zug and New York, and is led by founder/CEO Brian Collins and President Mark Elenowitz (former CEO of TriPoint Global Equities), supported by a C-suite comprising CTO Dr. Andrew Le Gear, CIO Peter Hall, CFO Mike Boswell, and a Lead Ethereum Architect. Horizon was listed in the FINRA Compliance Vendor Directory in 2020 and has secured strategic backing from Element ASA, PALcapital, and BTCS Inc., though it remains privately held with no public institutional funding rounds disclosed.

Name

Horizon Fintex

Legal name

Horizon Globex GmbH

Website

https://horizonfintex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Horizon Fintex (Horizon Globex GmbH) builds blockchain infrastructure and a five-product software suite for compliant tokenized securities issuance, KYC/AML onboarding, cap table management, and secondary trading, deployed through its MERJ Exchange joint venture powering the Upstream market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Securities Trading Software

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Tokenization Platforms (RWA, Securities, Funds) (FSAGAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Asset Risk, Security & Audit Tooling (Smart Contract Audit, Threat Monitoring) (FSAGAMAJ), AML/KYC, KYB & Identity Verification (VASP/Travel Rule) (FSAPAJAC), Tokenized Debt, Notes & On-Chain Credit Instruments (FSADAFAM)

Keywords

• Tokenized securities platform
• Blockchain securities trading
• Digital asset issuance
• KYC AML compliance software
• Cap table management

Headquarters

HQ city

Zug

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: Horizon licenses its blockchain-powered securities technology suite to exchanges, platforms, and enterprises. The company entered a licensing agreement with BCII Enterprises for Coupon Token ecosystem deployment on its Ethereum Layer-2 infrastructure. Revenue is generated through technology licensing fees and software service agreements.
2. Platform Services: Horizon provides software services to MERJ Exchange Ltd. for the Upstream market through a joint venture partnership. The platform enables compliant primary issuance and secondary trading of digital securities, generating revenue from platform usage and transaction facilitation.
3. Share Exchange Partnerships: Horizon enters into share exchange agreements with partners, such as the $3.75M deal with Diamond Lake Minerals, involving Horizon's regulated tokenized-securities exchange Upstream.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Horizon Fintex builds and licenses a blockchain-based integrated securities software suite comprising ETSware (digital securities issuance), KYCware (KYC compliance onboarding), AMLcop (AML screening), Custodyware (cap table management and dividend payments), and OpenOrderBook (secondary trading exchange technology), all powered by Ethereum Layer-2 smart-contract infrastructure. The company provides software services to MERJ Exchange Ltd. under a joint venture to operate the Upstream market, the first large-scale deployment of its technology for tokenized securities issuance and compliant secondary trading.

Product overview

Horizon Fintex is a blockchain fintech company offering a suite of integrated securities software applications for compliant issuance through secondary trading of digital securities. The platform comprises five core products: ETSware (securitization and digital securities issuance), KYCware (investor onboarding and KYC compliance), AMLcop (AML screening against global watchlists), Custodyware (cap table management and dividend payments), and OpenOrderBook (secondary trading exchange technology). These products are designed to work as an integrated end-to-end suite, enabling companies to issue tokenized securities and facilitate compliant secondary trading. The company also provides mobile SDKs (iOS Swift and Android Java/Kotlin) for developers building on their platform. Upstream, a MERJ Exchange market, represents a major production deployment of Horizon's technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Upstream: A next generation market powered by MERJ Exchange, the first large-scale application of Horizon's technology. It is the only securities market seeking to offer investors direct exchange access to primary and dual listed equities from all over the world.
• ETSware
• KYCware
• AMLcop
• Custodyware
• OpenOrderBook

Products and services

• ETSware Digital securities issuance and securitization platform that enables companies to create and issue compliant tokenized securities tailored to their business model and relevant regulatory requirements, with support from Wall Street veterans and crowdfunding pioneers.
• KYCware KYC compliance onboarding application that verifies and onboards investors through advanced ID, document, and identity verification technology via a smartphone app branded to the issuing company.
• AMLcop AML screening software that continuously screens users against a proprietary database of global sanctions, politically exposed persons (PEPs), and watchlists to increase accuracy and reduce false positives through a regulator-aligned due diligence process.
• Custodyware Cap table management and dividend payment platform enabling transfer agents or global nominees to manage digital securities, pay dividends, and make ATS-trading transfers with transparent and immutable storage of shareholder records.
• OpenOrderBook Exchange and trading app technology providing secondary market liquidity via a global network of trading venues, with smart-contract enforced rules against short selling and payment for order flow, integrated with Horizon's KYC/AML and cap table management solutions.
• Upstream A next-generation securities market powered by Horizon's technology and operated by MERJ Exchange Ltd. (under joint venture), offering investors direct exchange access to primary and dual listed equities worldwide with real-time trades and settlements on a blockchain-powered trading app with a transparent public orderbook.
• HorizonFintexSDK (iOS) Swift SDK for iOS developers that provides Ethereum keystore management, message signing, password verification, and keystore generation capabilities to build applications integrating with Horizon's Ethereum-based securities platform.
• ATSSDK (Android) Java/Kotlin SDK for Android developers providing EthereumKit, WebView components, and EthereumOperator protocol implementations for keystore management and blockchain interactions on Horizon's securities platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• First large-scale application of Horizon technology seeking to offer investors direct exchange access to primary and dual listed equities from around the world

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BCII Enterprises Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 17 February 2026BCII signed a software licensing agreement with Horizon Globex GmbH to deploy its blockchain-powered Coupon Token ecosystem on Horizon's Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain infrastructure. The Coupon Token system enables public companies to issue tokenized shareholder rewards across a multi-year vesting schedule with secondary trading capabilities.
• Netcapital Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Netcapital announced plans to expand its platform to support blockchain-based digital assets including tokenized securities and real-world assets. The expansion involves partnerships with Horizon Globex GmbH and Silicon Prairie Holdings Inc.
• Silicon Prairie Holdings Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Silicon Prairie Holdings Inc. is part of the partnership with Netcapital to enable compliant primary and secondary trading of digital securities on expanded blockchain-based platform.
• Diamond Lake MineralscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Horizon Fintex and Diamond Lake Minerals completed a $3.75 million share exchange partnership agreement to enhance Upstream trading liquidity. The partnership involves Horizon's regulated tokenized-securities exchange Upstream.
• Boustead SecuritiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 May 2023Boustead Securities partnered with MERJ Exchange to bring U.S. investors to Upstream. Opened registration for U.S. investors to trade stocks on Upstream's next generation trading app.
• Westmount CapitalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 May 2023Westmount Capital and Horizon Fintex joined forces to advance digital-first capital market goals for Canadian and European issuers.
• Equity Stock TransfercoreTechnology or Integration · 9 November 2022Upstream and Equity Stock Transfer released next generation transfer agent API to facilitate automated share transfers between exchanges, enabling seamless movement of digital securities.
• Timbaland's BeatclubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Horizon partnered with Timbaland's Beatclub to empower artist fundraising, letting fans buy and trade shares in music and NFTs. Partnership featured in Music Business Worldwide, Hypebot, and Musically.
• Piemonte HoldingminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 March 2021Piemonte Holding launched a bond trading platform using blockchain by Horizon, enabling Latam bond trading with compliant digital securities infrastructure.
• VertalocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2020Horizon authorized SEC-regulated transfer agent Vertalo to list issuers on the Upstream global stock exchange. Vertalo provides next-generation transfer agent API for automated share transfers between exchanges.
• Antiguan GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Antiguan Government signed MOU with Horizon to launch government-backed security token marketplace.
• RSM US LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 November 2019Horizon and RSM co-hosted the Dialogue with the Regulators forum in New York, featuring senior regulators from SEC, FINRA, and CFPB. RSM is a leading provider of audit, tax, and consulting services.
• MERJ Exchange Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorizon has a joint venture partnership with MERJ Exchange Ltd. to provide software services to MERJ Exchange Ltd. for the Upstream market. Upstream is a regulated global stock exchange for digital securities, and represents the first large-scale application of Horizon's technology.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tokeny: Enterprise-grade tokenization platform focused on compliant issuance, KYC/AML onboarding, and on-chain cap table management for issuers and financial institutions across Europe and globally.
• Polymath: Securities tokenization protocol and platform providing issuance infrastructure, identity verification, and compliance tooling for creating regulated digital securities.
• INX: Regulated digital asset platform operating a security token exchange and tokenized equity offerings, with a comparable profile of combining regulated trading infrastructure with tokenized primary issuance.
• tZERO: Blockchain-based security token trading platform and ATS, combining issuance infrastructure with a regulated secondary trading venue. Closely comparable to Upstream/MERJ in both technology and regulatory positioning.
• Securitize: Tokenization platform for securities and funds, offering issuance, cap table management, investor onboarding, and secondary trading. Directly competes with Horizon's ETSware/Custodyware/OpenOrderBook stack for the same enterprise tokenization RFPs.
• STOKR: European tokenization and trading platform enabling SMEs to issue tokenized securities with built-in compliance, KYC, and secondary trading — overlapping Horizon's issuer-facing value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• Bakkt: Regulated digital asset platform offering trading, custody, and tokenization-adjacent infrastructure to institutional clients. Overlaps with Horizon on the regulated on-ramp between digital assets and traditional capital markets.
• BitGo: Large institutional digital asset custody, trading, and infrastructure provider with adjacent tokenization capabilities (via Harbor). Relevant as a better-capitalized incumbent competing for enterprise RWA deals.
• R3 (Corda): Enterprise blockchain platform (Corda) widely used by financial institutions for capital markets workflows. Comparable as an enterprise-grade DLT stack competing for the same regulated securities and exchange modernization deals.

Emerging players

• Harbor (BitGo): Tokenized securities issuance and transfer agent infrastructure now under BitGo. Comparable in combining issuance, compliance, and cap table workflows for real-world asset tokenization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HorizonFintex
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@upstreamexchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upstream-exchange
• Facebookfacebook.com/horizonfintexx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horizon Fintex