CFTC Chairman Selig says markets must prepare for ‘mass tokenization’

CFTC Chair Michael Selig has signaled a major regulatory shift, urging the agency to prepare for mass tokenization and the transition to 24/7 financial markets. Speaking at a New York Fed conference, Selig emphasized that the next decade will likely see more transformation in financial infrastructure than the previous several decades combined. The CFTC is actively exploring the integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence to modernize market operations while maintaining the U.S. market's status as a global gold standard. This push includes ongoing efforts to facilitate responsible stablecoin adoption for clearinghouses and exchanges, building on previous moves to allow stablecoins as eligible collateral. Simultaneously, the SEC has introduced an innovation exemption to support the onchain trading of tokenized stocks. These regulatory developments suggest a coordinated effort to modernize U.S. financial markets despite the current legislative stalemate in the Senate. This shift is critical for the RWA market as it provides the necessary legal framework for institutional-grade, round-the-clock asset settlement.