SEC clears path for tokenized stocks, bringing the market closer to 24/7 trading

The long awaited Innovation Exemption comes two days after the Senate voted to block the Clarity Act crypto market structure bill from advancing.

SEC clears path for tokenized stocks, bringing the market closer to 24/7 trading

TL;DR

  • The SEC has issued an "Innovation Exemption" allowing certain trading venues to issue tokenized stocks.
  • Key conditions include holders retaining all traditional rights and companies having the ability to object to tokenization.
  • This regulatory move comes after the Clarity Act, a crypto market structure bill, failed to advance in the Senate.
  • The exemption is a five-year measure intended to allow market evolution and inform future, durable rulemaking.
  • Tokenization could enhance accessibility and liquidity, potentially enabling 24/7 trading and easier integration with blockchain infrastructure.
  • The exemption includes volume limits to mitigate risks like increased volatility.
  • Companies can object to their securities being tokenized by notifying the trading venue, which must then wait 30 days before trading the token.