Announcing Agora: The First Network Connecting Alternative Trading Systems for Tokenized and Private Securities, an Industry Initiative Designed to Enable Cross-platform Trading Access

SALT LAKE CITY, UT and NEW YORK, NY - January 15, 2026 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - tZERO Group, Inc., a leading innovator in blockchain-powered multi-asset infrastructure, and North Capital Investment Technology, Inc., a financial technology company providing technology solutions to private securities issuers, intermediaries, and investors, today announced their new collaboration, Agora, the first technology network connecting Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) to enable broader market access for tokenized securities and other private securities. The initiative brings together two of the leading ATSs to create shared infrastructure for securities discovery and order routing across platforms.

Agora will allow securities listed on one ATS to be accessible to qualified subscribers of another, expanding market reach and potential liquidity without requiring bespoke integrations between each platform. Participating ATSs will retain full control of their matching engines, settlement processes, and compliance procedures.

"Private securities markets have operated in silos for too long," said Jim Dowd, Chief Executive Officer of North Capital. "Agora’s purpose is to create the connective infrastructure to allow ATSs to maintain their independence while participating in a broader network that will be expanded through tokenization on public blockchains. This is how we unlock liquidity in private markets."

“As I’ve noted before, this industry must defragment. For tokenized and private securities to reach their full potential, they can’t live inside isolated platforms,” said Alan Konevsky, Chief Executive Officer of tZERO. “Markets need connective tissue - not walled gardens. Agora represents an important step toward a more open, interoperable market structure, where ATSs retain their independence while enabling assets and liquidity to move more freely across platforms. That kind of networked infrastructure is essential to building scalable, efficient private markets.”

The initial phase of the Agora network launch will focus on internal connectivity, enabling qualified subscribers of the tZERO ATS to access securities listed on the North Capital PPEX ATS, and vice versa. This phase is designed to validate the core routing and integration technology. Subsequent phases will aim to open the network to additional third-party ATSs and liquidity providers, further accelerating market access and liquidity aggregation across the private securities ecosystem.

“Real liquidity is unlocked when assets can move across interconnected markets and asset types. Blockchain is the ideal candidate to become the base layer for private markets because it allows assets to be issued, traded, and settled on shared, interoperable rails. When private assets are natively digital and regulated, they can move across venues, access multiple liquidity pools, and integrate directly into modern market infrastructure. That interoperability is what turns tokenization from a feature into a foundation for the future of open, interoperable private markets infrastructure that allows liquidity to aggregate naturally across platforms,” added tZERO’s Konevsky.

"Expanding liquidity through open systems, open standards, and automation will provide a catalyst to unlock the private securities market," said Mike Weaver, Managing Director at North Capital.

How Agora Works

Agora will operate as a technical registry and routing layer – not an exchange or ATS. ATSs will be participants, choosing the securities they wish to make available and the capabilities they plan to support. Broker-dealers, RIAs, and qualified institutional buyers register as subscribers to discover and trade securities across the network. When a subscriber submits an order, Agora will route it to the appropriate ATS where the security is listed for trading.

Key Features

• Single Integration: Subscribers to connect once to access securities across all participating ATSs

• ATS Sovereignty: Each ATS to maintain control of matching, settlement, and compliance.

• Wholesale Market: Access limited to qualified institutional participants [registered investment advisors (RIAs), qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), broker-dealers].

• Flexible Protocols: Support for REST API and FIX connectivity.

• Shared Infrastructure: Participant fees designed to support allocated operating costs.

The Agora API framework is expected to be available in the first half of 2026.

North Capital Media Contact
James P. Dowd, jdowd@northcapital.com, (415) 315-9916

tZERO Media Contact:
Julie Ros, Head of Marketing & Communications
jros@tzero.com

Investor Notice

Private securities and digital asset securities, as well as any particular investment, may not be suitable or appropriate for everyone. Investors should note that investing or trading in securities could involve substantial risks, including no guarantee of returns, costs associated with selling and purchasing, and no assurance of liquidity which could impact their price and investor’s ability to sell, and possible loss of all principal invested. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. There are also unique risks specific to digital asset securities, including, without limitation, fraud, manipulation, theft, and loss.

No Offer, Solicitation, Investment Advice or Recommendations by either tZero or North Capital

This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, nor does it constitute an offer to provide investment advisory or other services by tZERO or North Capital or any of their respective its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees. No reference to any specific security constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold that security or any other security. Nothing in this release shall be considered a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any security, future, option or other financial instrument or to offer or provide any investment advice or service to any person in any jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this release constitutes investment advice or offers any opinion with respect to the suitability of any security, and the views expressed in this release should not be taken as advice to buy, sell or hold any security. In preparing the information contained in this release, we have not taken into account the investment needs, objectives, and financial circumstances of any particular investor. This information has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any specific recipient of this information and investments discussed may not be suitable for all investors. Any views expressed in this release by us were prepared based upon the information available to us at the time such views were written. Changed or additional information could cause such views to change. All information is subject to possible corrections. Information may quickly become unreliable for various reasons, including changes in market conditions or economic circumstances.

About North Capital

North Capital through its technology and services provided by its registered subsidiaries is transforming infrastructure for issuers, professional intermediaries, and investors in the $3 trillion exempt securities market, driving the evolution of capital raising, clearing, custody and secondary trading for exempt securities including tokenized securities that utilize smart contracts deployed on decentralized blockchain systems.

About North Capital Private Securities Corporation

North Capital Private Securities Corporation (NCPS) is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC. NCPS is an agency broker and a clearing and carrying firm, and operates the PPEX Alternative Trading System (PPEX ATS), a SEC-registered ATS for secondary trading of private and other exempt securities and registered unlisted securities, including digital asset securities. More information about NCPS may be found on FINRA’s BrokerCheck and on North Capital’s website www.northcapital.com.

Forward-Looking Statements by North Capital

This release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, North Capital, its affiliates, subsidiaries, or representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations and projections about future events, which is derived from currently available information. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, including financial performance and projections; growth in revenue and earnings; and business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including, without limitation: the ability of North Capital and its subsidiaries to change the direction; North Capital’s ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; performance of individual transactions; regulatory developments and matters; and competition. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this release and other statements made from time to time may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. North Capital, its affiliates, subsidiaries, and representatives are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this release and other statements made from time to time by North Capital, its affiliates, subsidiaries or representatives might not occur.

About tZERO

tZERO Group, Inc. (tZERO) and its broker-dealer subsidiaries provide an innovative liquidity platform for private companies and assets. We offer institutional-grade solutions for issuers looking to digitize their capital table through blockchain technology, and make such equity available for trading on an alternative trading system. tZERO, through its broker-dealer subsidiaries, democratizes access to private assets by providing a simple, automated, and efficient trading venue to broker-dealers, institutions, and investors. All technology services are offered through tZERO Technologies, LLC. For more information, please visit our website.

About tZERO Digital Asset Securities, LLC

tZERO Digital Asset Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC. It is the broker-dealer custodian of all digital asset securities offered on tZERO’s online brokerage platform. More information about tZERO Digital Asset Securities may be found on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

About tZERO Securities, LLC

tZERO Securities, LLC is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC. It is the operator of the tZERO Securities ATS. More information about tZERO Securities may be found on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

Forward-Looking Statements by tZero

This release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, tZERO, its subsidiaries, or its representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations and projections about future events, which is derived from currently available information. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, including financial performance and projections; growth in revenue and earnings; and business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including, without limitation: the ability of tZERO and its subsidiaries to change the direction; tZERO’s ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; performance of individual transactions; regulatory developments and matters; and competition. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this release and other statements made from time to time by tZERO, its subsidiaries or their respective representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. tZERO, its subsidiaries, and its representatives are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this release and other statements made from time to time by tZERO, its subsidiaries or its representatives might not occur.

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