<PAGE>   1
                                                      Exhibit 4.1


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                    <C>                                                       <C>
NUMBER                                                [OPTIMARK LOGO]                                             SHARES
OT

                                                       OPTIMARK (TM)
COMMON STOCK                                         TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
PAR VALUE .01 PER SHARE                 INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE     SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
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     This certifies that




     is the owner of



               FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK OF

     OPTIMARK TECHNOLOGIES, INC. The shares evidenced by this Certificate are
     transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person
     or duly authorized attorney or legal representative, upon surrender of this
     Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented
     hereby are subject to all the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation
     and Bylaws of the Corporation and all amendments thereto (copies of which
     are on file with the Transfer Agent). This Certificate is not valid unless
     countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be
executed by its facsimile seal and the facsimile signatures of its duly
authorized officers.

Dated:

                          OPTIMARK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                            CORPORATE SEAL DELAWARE

      /s/ Christopher J. Walsh                             /s/ William A. Lupen
          SECRETARY                                            CHAIRMAN

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
     ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
                         TRANSFER AGENT
                         AND REGISTRAR

BY:
                      AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
<PAGE>   2

                          OPTIMARK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

The corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests
the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or
other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the
Corporation, and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such
preferences and/or rights. Such request may be made to the corporation or the
transfer agent.

     The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of
this Certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM - as tenants in common       UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -       Custodian
                                                        -------         -------
                                                         (Cust)         (Minor)
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties             under Uniform Gifts to Minors

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right               ACT
         of survivorship and not as                    ------------------------
         tenants in common                                  (State)

      Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

For value received,                 hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
                   -----------------


PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
 IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address including Zip Code of Assignee)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Shares

of the Stock represented by the within certificate and do hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint

                                                  ------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------Attorney

to transfer the said Stock on the books of the within named Corporation with
full power of substitution in the premises.


Dated:
      -----------------

                                            ---------------------------------
                                                           Signature
                                            NOTICE: The signature(s) to this
                                            assignment must correspond with the
                                            name as written upon the face of
                                            the Certificate, in every
                                            particular, without alteration or
                                            enlargement, or any change whatever.




SIGNATURE GUARANTEED:
                     ----------------------------------------------------------
                     THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
                     GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND
                     LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN
                     APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM), PURSUANT
                     TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.