Nasdaq plans to put tokenized and conventional securities on the identical order e-book.
Settlement would nonetheless run by DTCC techniques regardless of blockchain integration.
Trade responses are cut up as regulators assess authorized and operational dangers.
The US Securities and Change Fee has begun a proper assessment that might decide whether or not tokenized shares are allowed to commerce on Nasdaq, inserting blockchain-based securities underneath shut regulatory examination.
By looking for public suggestions on Nasdaq’s proposed rule change, the SEC is assessing how digital representations of shares may match inside present market buildings.
The transfer displays rising curiosity in tokenization throughout monetary markets, whereas underscoring regulators’ give attention to authorized certainty, settlement integrity, and investor safety.
Any choice is more likely to affect how shortly blockchain expertise is adopted inside mainstream fairness buying and selling.
Based on the SEC submitting, Nasdaq has requested for approval to checklist and commerce securities in tokenized kind.
This step has triggered a broader session course of overlaying regulatory, technical, and coverage issues.
The assessment will decide whether or not tokenized shares can function alongside conventional equities with out altering core market safeguards.
Regulatory assessment begins
Below Nasdaq’s proposal, tokenized shares and exchange-traded merchandise would commerce in parallel with standard shares.
Each codecs would seem on the identical order e-book and carry the identical shareholder rights.
Clearing and settlement would proceed by the Depository Belief and Clearing Company, whereas blockchain expertise could be used to enhance operational effectivity.
The SEC’s request for suggestions alerts that no approval is assured.
As a substitute, regulators are evaluating whether or not tokenized securities can ship sooner and cheaper settlement with out creating new dangers.
The session marks the beginning of a deeper evaluation quite than a remaining choice.
How tokenized shares would commerce
If authorized, Nasdaq’s framework would permit blockchain-based shares to commerce identical to common shares.
Buyers wouldn’t want separate techniques or accounts, as tokenized and conventional securities would coexist throughout the identical buying and selling atmosphere.
Settlement would nonetheless depend on DTCC techniques, guaranteeing continuity with present market processes.
Consultants argue that this construction preserves investor protections whereas permitting blockchain to scale back settlement instances and operational prices.
The SEC’s assessment will assess whether or not these effectivity features outweigh potential complexities launched by tokenized record-keeping.
Trade views divided
Market reactions to the proposal have been blended. Trade teams have voiced assist, pointing to the potential for tokenization to boost market effectivity and modernise post-trade processes.
Regulatory developments elsewhere additionally counsel growing openness.
The US Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee has authorized a pilot programme permitting tokenized property for use as collateral, indicating broader acceptance of blockchain-based monetary devices.
Nevertheless, opposition has emerged from corporations together with Ondo Finance and Cboe World Markets.
These firms argue that the SEC ought to delay approval till the DTCC offers clearer steerage on how tokenized trades could be settled.
Their concern centres on the truth that all such transactions would nonetheless rely on DTCC infrastructure, making settlement readability important.
