**SEC Warns That Tokenized Assets Still Fall Under Traditional Securities Regulations**
Blockchain technology has long been hailed as a revolutionary force in finance, promising to transform traditional assets into digital tokens for faster, more efficient trading. However, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce recently emphasized that while tokenization is innovative, it doesn’t exempt market participants from existing financial regulations. In a clear statement, she noted that **“tokenized securities are still securities,”** meaning they must comply with the same legal requirements as traditional financial instruments. This comes as major firms like BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase, and Robinhood explore tokenizing assets such as stocks, bonds, and real estate—highlighting the potential for 24/7 trading, lower costs, and greater transparency. However, the SEC insists that investor protections and market integrity remain paramount.
### **What Tokenization Means—and Why It’s Not Risk-Free**
Tokenization involves creating blockchain-based digital tokens that represent ownership of real-world assets, from company shares to complex debt bundles. While this could democratize investing by allowing fractional ownership, Peirce warned that not all tokens are equal. Some may function as **“receipts for securities”** or even **“security-based swaps,”** which are heavily regulated and often restricted for retail investors. A key concern is whether token holders truly own the underlying asset, especially if a third-party issuer collapses—raising risks similar to those seen in recent crypto exchange failures. The SEC’s stance underscores that blockchain efficiency doesn’t eliminate the need for compliance with securities laws designed to protect investors.
### **The Path Forward: Innovation Within Regulatory Boundaries**
Peirce encouraged firms to engage with the SEC early when developing tokenized products, signaling openness to modernizing rules—but only if companies adhere to existing frameworks. Her message serves as a reality check for the crypto and finance industries: **tokenization isn’t a regulatory loophole, but a new layer for traditional finance.** As blockchain-based markets evolve, the SEC will continue enforcing accountability, ensuring that innovation doesn’t come at the expense of investor safety. The future of finance may be digital, but it will still operate under well-established legal safeguards.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://gizmodo.com/the-sec-is-crashing-the-digital-stocks-party-2000627381.