#SEC

185 articles tagged #SEC — curated RWA tokenization coverage.

BitGo says asset servicing is the real barrier to tokenized securities
Infrastructure

BitGo says asset servicing is the real barrier to tokenized securities

BitGo executive Eugene Hahr argues that the primary hurdle for institutional-scale tokenized securities has shifted from basic custody to complex asset servicing. While holding digital tokens is a solved technical challenge, the industry now faces difficulties in managing the rights, obligations, and corporate actions attached to these assets. Hahr highlights that institutional adoption requires seamless integration of dividends, proxy voting, and daily reconciliation within existing risk and compliance frameworks. He notes that the U.S. and U.K. are approaching this evolution from different directions, with the U.K. focusing on infrastructure via the Digital Securities Sandbox and the U.S. prioritizing trading-led regulatory exemptions. The SEC's September 17 order serves as a critical milestone by allowing onchain venues to operate under conditional exemptions if tokens mirror underlying share rights. Currently, much of the equity tokenization market remains a wrapper for conventional assets, whereas money market funds and private credit have seen more mature production. Ultimately, banks and asset managers are demanding unified operating models that allow them to handle crypto, stablecoins, and tokenized securities without siloed infrastructure. This transition marks a shift toward practical, operational readiness as institutions seek to align onchain assets with traditional financial standards.

au.investing.com·Sep 23, 20267.5
Plume Network Asks SEC Not To Regulate Crypto Vault Protocols
Infrastructure

Plume Network Asks SEC Not To Regulate Crypto Vault Protocols

Plume Network met with the SEC’s Crypto Task Force on September 22 to propose a function-based regulatory framework for onchain vault protocols. The proposal argues that U.S. securities laws should apply based on specific activities—such as investment discretion and asset selection—rather than the underlying blockchain technology or the vault label itself. Plume suggests dividing the vault ecosystem into four distinct roles: protocol developer, curator, administrator, and token issuer. Under this model, immutable smart-contract developers providing infrastructure without custody or discretion would face different regulatory requirements than curators who actively manage strategies. Additionally, Plume advocated for SEC guidance on using distributed-ledger wallets for securityholder registration and embedding anti-money-laundering controls directly into tokenized fund interests. The company also requested rules to support hybrid fund structures that issue both conventional and tokenized share classes. While the SEC has not adopted these recommendations, the submission highlights a growing industry effort to define clear compliance pathways for RWA-focused Ethereum Layer 2 networks. This dialogue is critical for the RWA market as it seeks to reconcile decentralized vault mechanics with existing federal securities and investment-company regulations.

cryptotimes.io·Sep 23, 20267.5
MoonPay eyes tokenized securities push with $60 million acquisition of brokerage firm North Capital
Infrastructure

MoonPay eyes tokenized securities push with $60 million acquisition of brokerage firm North Capital

MoonPay has acquired North Capital Investment Technology for over $60 million in an all-stock deal to accelerate its entry into the tokenized securities market. This strategic acquisition provides MoonPay with essential SEC-registered brokerage licenses, including broker-dealer, transfer agent, and alternative trading system (ATS) capabilities. North Capital previously collaborated with tZero to facilitate the trading of tokenized assets, establishing a foundation for compliant digital securities. By integrating these back-end services, MoonPay aims to build the regulatory infrastructure necessary for the mass adoption of tokenized debt and equity. The move follows a broader industry trend where major firms like Robinhood and Kraken are expanding their tokenized asset offerings. This development is further supported by a recent SEC "innovators exemption" that provides a clearer regulatory pathway for companies to offer tokenized stocks. The acquisition underscores the growing institutional focus on programmable financial infrastructure to bridge traditional equities with blockchain technology.

fortune.com·Sep 23, 20268.0
SEC Opens Door to Tokenized Equities, DeFi Market Cap Hits $80 Billion — Bitwise CIO Draws Parallels to Early AI Era
Infrastructure

SEC Opens Door to Tokenized Equities, DeFi Market Cap Hits $80 Billion — Bitwise CIO Draws Parallels to Early AI Era

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced a temporary five-year exemption allowing for the conditional on-chain trading of tokenized U.S. listed equities, provided issuers are notified and shareholder rights are maintained. Simultaneously, S&P Global announced the acquisition of OpenZeppelin, a smart contract security firm whose technology has secured over $37 trillion in value transfers. These developments signal a significant institutional push toward the on-chain migration of financial markets, with regulators and ratings agencies building the necessary infrastructure for tokenized assets. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan highlighted these events as evidence of a structural shift in financial mechanics, comparing the current trajectory of tokenization to the early growth phase of artificial intelligence. While the current market for tokenized equities remains at approximately $2.9 billion, the potential for integration into DeFi protocols for lending and yield generation is substantial. Traditional exchanges are also responding to this shift, with Nasdaq planning to launch 23-hour trading by December 2026 to compete with the always-on nature of crypto markets. These combined regulatory and infrastructure milestones suggest that tokenization is moving beyond speculative interest into a phase of institutional legitimacy.

finance.biggo.com·Sep 23, 20269.0
Cantor Fitzgerald Flags 95% Upside in the Firm Putting Stocks Onchain
Infrastructure

Cantor Fitzgerald Flags 95% Upside in the Firm Putting Stocks Onchain

Cantor Fitzgerald has initiated coverage on Securitize with an overweight rating and a $21.20 price target, signaling significant institutional confidence in the tokenization sector. This move follows a recent SEC temporary order that established a regulatory pathway for venues to issue tokenized representations of publicly traded U.S. equities. Securitize, currently ranked by RWA.xyz as the largest tokenization platform with $4.64 billion in distributed asset value, saw its stock price surge nearly 24% following the analyst report. Analyst Gareth Gacetta highlighted that Securitize manages the full lifecycle of tokenized assets, including issuance, registration, and custody. The firm estimates that while only $39 billion in assets are currently on-chain, this represents a tiny fraction of the $319 trillion global financial market. With monthly transfer volumes reaching $1.12 billion, the company is positioned to capture a substantial share of the ongoing financial infrastructure overhaul. This development underscores the growing intersection between traditional Wall Street equity research and the emerging blockchain-based asset market.

BeInCrypto·Sep 22, 20268.0
Securitize (SECZ) Climbs to All-Time High on Tokenized Securities Go-Signal
Stocks

Securitize (SECZ) Climbs to All-Time High on Tokenized Securities Go-Signal

Securitize Corp. (NYSE:SECZ) reached an all-time high of $13.93 following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's decision to grant conditional exemptive relief for the trading of tokenized U.S. stocks. This regulatory milestone allows platforms to issue tokenized representations of publicly traded equities, provided they maintain shareholder rights and allow companies to opt-out. The SEC's Innovation Exemption removes a significant barrier to on-chain equity trading, positioning Securitize as a primary beneficiary due to its existing blockchain-based issuance and management infrastructure. Following the announcement, Cantor Fitzgerald issued a buy rating with a $21.20 price target, while Rosenblatt raised its target to $13.00. Despite this positive regulatory shift, the company reported a second-quarter net loss of $21.69 million, a 253 percent increase in losses compared to the previous year. The market reaction underscores the growing institutional appetite for tokenized financial assets despite the company's recent financial headwinds. This development marks a pivotal moment for the RWA sector by integrating traditional equity markets with blockchain-based trading rails.

finance.yahoo.com·Sep 22, 20269.0
Coinbase Shares Rise as Bitcoin Tops $85,000; IPO Access, SEC Tokenization in Focus
Infrastructure

Coinbase Shares Rise as Bitcoin Tops $85,000; IPO Access, SEC Tokenization in Focus

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a five-year Innovation Exemption on September 17, establishing a regulatory framework for venues trading tokenized National Market System stocks. This framework provides conditional relief from exchange definitions for platforms utilizing permissioned automated market makers, provided tokenized securities mirror the rights of traditional assets. While the exemption does not grant Coinbase specific operational approval, analysts at Bernstein suggest it positions the firm to compete in the emerging U.S. tokenized-equity market. Coinbase is currently expanding its 'Everything Exchange' strategy, which aims to integrate stocks, derivatives, and tokenized assets alongside its existing crypto services. The company already offers offshore tokenized stocks on the Base blockchain, though these remain restricted for U.S. users. Market participants view this regulatory clarity as a significant step toward bringing 24/7 price discovery and on-chain liquidity to traditional equities. Consequently, Coinbase shares and related tokenized instruments like COINB saw positive price movement following the announcement.

thecryptobasic.com·Sep 21, 20268.0
Tokenized stocks may see limited U.S. demand: TD Cowen
Stocks

Tokenized stocks may see limited U.S. demand: TD Cowen

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently introduced a five-year exemption allowing qualifying Tokenized Securities Venues to trade tokenized National Market System (NMS) stocks using permissioned automated market makers (AMMs). However, a TD Cowen analysis, authored by Reid Noch, indicates limited domestic demand from U.S. investors, institutions, and listed companies for these products. The report highlights that American investors already possess efficient access to deep liquidity, low-cost brokerage, and fast electronic execution for traditional shares, diminishing the perceived benefits of tokenized alternatives. While blockchain venues could offer 24/7 trading, TD Cowen warns that continuous access does not guarantee favorable execution, especially with thin liquidity in AMM pools outside main U.S. trading hours. Discussions with dozens of issuers revealed minimal interest in offering tokenized shares, with only crypto-linked businesses like Figure showing more engagement. For instance, Figure's Nasdaq-listed FIGR shares accounted for 99.9% of its notional trading volume compared to its blockchain-native FGRS shares. This suggests that even with equal economic and governance rights, tokenized stocks struggle to attract significant activity from established markets. TD Cowen anticipates stronger demand for perpetual futures, citing a snapshot of Nvidia trading on Binance where perpetuals generated 96% of notional volume versus 4% for spot products, indicating a preference for leveraged price exposure over tokenized ownership.

crypto.news·Sep 21, 20267.5
Johann Kerbrat: Robinhood's Tokenized Stocks Hit $1.2 Billion Daily Volume, 70% Outside Market Hours
Stocks

Johann Kerbrat: Robinhood's Tokenized Stocks Hit $1.2 Billion Daily Volume, 70% Outside Market Hours

The SEC recently introduced an innovation exemption allowing tokenized U.S. equities to trade on blockchain platforms, provided they meet strict requirements for shareholder rights and auditability. Johann Kerbrat, representing Robinhood, highlighted that this regulatory shift marks a transition for tokenization from an offshore curiosity to a viable U.S. market product. Currently, Robinhood's stock tokens function as debt instruments backed by underlying shares rather than direct equity, creating a strategic fork as the firm evaluates building compliant, high-fidelity tokenized securities. Data from the first two months of Robinhood Chain shows that 70% of trading volume occurs outside traditional market hours, signaling significant demand for 24/7 financial infrastructure. While Robinhood leverages Ethereum for security and decentralization, the company faces challenges regarding price divergence and the need for a unified federal regulatory framework. Kerbrat emphasized that the long-term goal is a singular, blockchain-based market that renders the distinction between traditional and new systems obsolete. Looking ahead, Robinhood plans to expand its tokenization efforts beyond equities into private equity, real estate, and additional commodities.

finance.biggo.com·Sep 21, 20268.5
Bitcoin climbs toward $82k as tokenized-stock move boosts crypto sentiment
Infrastructure

Bitcoin climbs toward $82k as tokenized-stock move boosts crypto sentiment

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has granted a temporary five-year exemption permitting qualifying venues to facilitate the trading of tokenized U.S. stocks on blockchain-based platforms. This regulatory milestone aims to foster financial innovation while ensuring robust investor protections remain in place. The announcement has significantly bolstered market sentiment, contributing to a broader rally in digital assets and crypto-related equities like Coinbase, MicroStrategy, and Robinhood. By bridging traditional equity markets with blockchain infrastructure, the move signals a potential shift toward deeper integration of legacy financial assets within decentralized ecosystems. While Bitcoin climbed toward $82,000, the positive momentum was further supported by easing inflation concerns linked to falling oil prices. This development is viewed as a critical step in legitimizing onchain trading for institutional-grade assets. The market reaction underscores the high sensitivity of digital asset valuations to regulatory clarity regarding the tokenization of real-world securities.

investing.com·Sep 21, 20269.0
Could IBRX Be A Tokenized Stock? Founder’s Tease Sends ImmunityBio Traders Into Speculation Mode
Stocks

Could IBRX Be A Tokenized Stock? Founder’s Tease Sends ImmunityBio Traders Into Speculation Mode

ImmunityBio founder Patrick Soon-Shiong has signaled a potential move toward tokenizing the company's shares following his announcement regarding blockchain-based stock trading at Nant. This development follows the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent introduction of an 'Innovation Exemption,' which establishes a five-year framework for trading tokenized versions of U.S.-listed securities. Soon-Shiong, who controls 65.5% of ImmunityBio, aims to leverage Nant Global Finance’s infrastructure to integrate blockchain settlement into capital markets. The proposed platform intends to utilize automated market makers and auditable smart contracts to mirror the rights of traditional shares, including dividends and voting. Retail investors have responded with increased bullish sentiment, speculating that tokenization could mitigate issues like phantom shares and short-selling pressures. Nant Global Finance is currently assembling a suite of capabilities through acquisitions, including Horizon Globex and Upstream Exchange technology. This shift highlights the growing institutional interest in applying blockchain technology to modernize equity trading and settlement processes.

tradingview.com·Sep 21, 20267.5
New Crypto Alert: SEC Opens Tokenized Stock Trading as Remittix Pushes PayFi Into the Spotlight
Infrastructure

New Crypto Alert: SEC Opens Tokenized Stock Trading as Remittix Pushes PayFi Into the Spotlight

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has established a five-year exemptive pathway for qualifying platforms to offer tokenized stock trading, signaling a major regulatory shift toward on-chain equity markets. This framework aims to facilitate near-continuous trading and faster settlement for blockchain-based representations of traditional securities. While the SEC ruling does not immediately place all U.S. equities on-chain, it provides a structured, time-limited environment for operators to test programmable financial applications. Simultaneously, projects like Remittix are attempting to bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional fiat banking through PayFi infrastructure. Remittix facilitates cross-border payments and settlements across over 50 crypto pairs and 30 fiat currencies, aiming to solve the liquidity friction between blockchain ecosystems and local bank networks. The convergence of these regulatory developments and payment solutions highlights the growing demand for interoperability between regulated securities and everyday financial utility. As tokenized assets gain institutional legitimacy, the ability to move value seamlessly between on-chain environments and fiat accounts remains a critical hurdle for mass adoption.

streetinsider.com·Sep 20, 20267.5
Crypto Holds Firm: How Tokenization Is Navigating Rate Hikes and Regulatory Setbacks
U.S. Treasuries

Crypto Holds Firm: How Tokenization Is Navigating Rate Hikes and Regulatory Setbacks

Despite macroeconomic headwinds from a Federal Reserve interest rate hike to 3.75%–4% and the failure of the CLARITY Act in the Senate, the tokenized real-world asset (RWA) market has demonstrated significant resilience. Data from RWA.xyz as of September 19 indicates approximately $38.50 billion in distributed RWA value on public blockchains, excluding stablecoins, with a broader represented asset value reaching $368.13 billion. This growth suggests that blockchain-based financial infrastructure is increasingly attracting capital independent of traditional speculative crypto cycles. Institutional interest remains anchored in products like BlackRock’s BUIDL, Circle’s USYC, and Ondo’s USDY, which provide regulated exposure to short-term government debt. While legislative progress remains stalled, the SEC has provided conditional relief for trading tokenized National Market System stocks, signaling a shift toward practical regulatory integration. The durability of these assets highlights a transition where tokenization is valued for improved settlement speed, reduced reconciliation costs, and 24/7 availability. Ultimately, the sector is evolving into a functional financial layer that persists even when monetary policy and political conditions create market pressure.

cryptotimes.io·Sep 20, 20267.5
Injective Powers First Onchain Trade Finance Pilot for POSCO International and LG CNS
Infrastructure

Injective Powers First Onchain Trade Finance Pilot for POSCO International and LG CNS

Injective has successfully executed its first onchain trade finance pilot in collaboration with South Korean giants POSCO International and LG CNS. The project utilized trade receivables generated from real commercial activity, which were issued as programmable, permissioned onchain assets with integrated compliance controls. AI agents were employed to automate the review of Letters of Credit and supporting trade documentation, demonstrating the potential for increased efficiency in the $5 trillion global trade finance market. Beyond this pilot, Injective has achieved a significant regulatory milestone by becoming an SEC-registered transfer agent, enabling it to perform regulated recordkeeping for U.S. capital markets. This infrastructure currently supports over $1 billion in real estate mortgages and a diverse range of assets including institutional funds and pre-IPO equities. By combining purpose-built RWA infrastructure with AI-powered financial workflows, Injective aims to modernize traditional capital markets through a unified, compliant layer 1 blockchain. This development marks a strategic expansion of the network's RWA ecosystem, positioning it as a comprehensive stack for institutional-grade asset issuance and settlement.

Blockonomi·Sep 20, 20268.5
Coinbase, Robinhood, Circle could be early winners of SEC's tokenized
Stocks

Coinbase, Robinhood, Circle could be early winners of SEC's tokenized

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced a five-year innovation exemption allowing for the trading of tokenized U.S. stocks on public blockchains via automated market makers. This regulatory framework mandates that tokens must preserve essential shareholder rights, including voting and dividends, while imposing strict caps on trading volume and the number of eligible securities. Analysts from Goldman Sachs and Citizens identify Coinbase, Robinhood, and Circle as primary beneficiaries of this shift toward onchain securities. Coinbase is positioned to leverage its institutional custody services and the Base blockchain, though it may need to adapt its central limit order book infrastructure to align with the SEC's AMM-focused requirements. Robinhood is expected to evolve its existing offshore derivative-based stock tokens to meet these new compliance standards, potentially utilizing its Arbitrum-based Robinhood Chain. Circle stands to benefit as USDC becomes a preferred asset for settlement and collateral within these emerging onchain markets. While traditional exchanges like Nasdaq and ICE face limited immediate impact due to current volume caps, this development marks a significant step toward integrating regulated equity markets with blockchain technology. The ability for issuers to opt-out of third-party tokenization adds a layer of corporate control that addresses previous industry criticisms.

CoinDesk·Sep 20, 20268.5
Peter Schiff calls SEC tokenized stock announcement bearish for Bitcoin despite rally
Infrastructure

Peter Schiff calls SEC tokenized stock announcement bearish for Bitcoin despite rally

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a five-year conditional exemption allowing trading platforms to facilitate the liquidity pool trading of tokenized National Market System (NMS) stocks. This regulatory move permits platforms to trade these assets without registering as traditional exchanges, provided the tokens are fully backed by actual equities and grant holders full shareholder rights, including dividends and voting power. While the market initially reacted with a Bitcoin rally, critic Peter Schiff argued the development is bearish for Bitcoin, suggesting that tokenized equities offer a superior value proposition by combining traditional financial benefits with blockchain-based 24/7 trading and near-instant settlement. Conversely, proponents argue that the SEC's formal recognition of blockchain infrastructure validates the underlying technology and enhances the potential for composability within decentralized finance. By enabling tokenized stocks to function as collateral or liquidity pool assets, the exemption bridges the gap between regulated securities and digital asset ecosystems. The mandate requires platforms to notify issuers 30 days prior to trading, granting issuers the right to opt out of tokenization. This development marks a significant shift in how regulated securities interact with distributed ledger technology, potentially compressing settlement times from the current T+1 standard.

tradingview.com·Sep 20, 20267.5
T. Rowe Price's Head Of Digital Assets Says Tokenized Stocks Must Be 'Instantly Fungible,' Agency Rules Can Move Without CLARITY Act
Infrastructure

T. Rowe Price's Head Of Digital Assets Says Tokenized Stocks Must Be 'Instantly Fungible,' Agency Rules Can Move Without CLARITY Act

Blue Macellari, Head of Digital Assets at T. Rowe Price, argues that tokenized stocks will only achieve true market efficiency when they become instantly fungible with legacy equity formats. Currently, tokenized shares remain trapped in isolated on-chain liquidity pools, requiring complex multi-step functions to bridge with traditional systems, which introduces significant operational delays. Macellari emphasizes that the primary barrier to this integration is regulatory uncertainty regarding issuance authority and the legal classification of tokenized assets as native issuances versus derivatives. Despite the slow progress of legislative efforts like the CLARITY Act, she remains optimistic that agency-level rulemaking by bodies like the SEC will provide the necessary framework for industry growth. Major infrastructure players including the DTCC, ICE, and Nasdaq are already actively developing solutions to bridge these liquidity gaps. The SEC recently introduced an 'Innovation Exemption' allowing venues to trade tokenized U.S. stocks for five years without full exchange registration, signaling a shift toward parallel development. This evolution is critical for the RWA market, as it aims to modernize the world's largest equity markets without disrupting existing financial stability.

tradingview.com·Sep 19, 20267.5
Arbitrum price surges 31% as tokenized funds approach $1B
Infrastructure

Arbitrum price surges 31% as tokenized funds approach $1B

Arbitrum has experienced a significant market surge, with its native ARB token rallying 31% as the network's total value of tokenized funds reached a record $979.93 million. This growth is bolstered by a new five-year conditional exemption from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows regulated venues to trade tokenized National Market System stocks using automated market makers. While the exemption is not specific to Arbitrum, the network is positioned as a primary beneficiary due to its low transaction costs and high-speed settlement capabilities. The influx of tokenized credit funds, Treasury bills, and yield-generating strategies brings the ecosystem to the brink of the $1 billion milestone. Market analysts suggest that while this institutional interest provides a strong fundamental tailwind, the ARB token's price action remains subject to technical resistance levels. The integration of auditable smart contracts on public blockchains under the new SEC framework highlights a shift toward institutional-grade infrastructure on Layer-2 networks. Ultimately, the convergence of regulatory clarity and rising on-chain asset volume underscores the increasing role of Ethereum-based scaling solutions in the broader RWA market.

invezz.com·Sep 19, 20267.5

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