Part III Post-Trading Infrastructures, 16 Central Securities Depositories in the United States: Market Structure and Regulatory Framework »
Sam Wice
From: Financial Market Infrastructures: Law and Regulation
Edited By: Jens-Hinrich Binder, Paolo Saguato
This chapter studies the US central securities depositories (CSDs) landscape, reviewing the market structure and regulatory regime of CSDs. The US financial system has a unique structure for CSDs. The only CSD in the United States, The Depository Trust Company (DTC), is both (i) member-owned and operated and (ii) not directly affiliated with any trading venue. The chapter provides a general overview of the services that DTC offers and the touch points where different practitioners will generally interact with DTC. Particularly, it discusses the process for becoming a member of DTC or making a security eligible in DTC. The chapter also looks at the different transactions DTC provides and why practitioners would want to use those transactions or seek to transact through a stock exchange or similar trading venue. Finally, the chapter examines the general legal framework for CSDs in the United States and how practitioners and members of the public can influence DTC policy.