SEC Organizes High-Level Roundtable on Tokenization, Gathering Leaders from TradFi and DeFi to Shape the Future of Blockchain-Based Financial Markets.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced an important move in digital asset policy by organizing a high-level roundtable named "Tokenization – Moving Assets Onchain: Intersection of TradFi and DeFi". This event, scheduled for May 12 at the SEC headquarters in Washington D.C., marks a turning point in the regulator's approach to blockchain technology and its applications in financial markets.
Bridge Between Two Financial Worlds
Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, head of the SEC's Crypto Working Group, emphasized the importance of the roundtable: "Tokenization is a technological development that can significantly change many aspects of the financial market. I look forward to hearing perspectives from experts on how the SEC should approach this field."
The roundtable's agenda is divided into two main discussion sessions. The first session, "Evolution of Finance – Capital Market 2.0", will gather representatives from top global financial institutions like Fidelity, Nasdaq, Invesco, Franklin Templeton, BlackRock, Apollo Management, and DTCC. This session, coordinated by Jeff Dinwoodie from Cravath, will focus on the future landscape of capital markets with widespread blockchain technology application.
The second session, starting at 4 PM the same day, will discuss "The Future of Tokenization" under the coordination of Tiffany Smith (WilmerHale). This session will include diverse experts such as Hilary Allen (American University), Gene Hoffman (Chia Network), Johann Kerbrat (Robinhood), Sidney Powell (Maple Finance), and Angela Walch (independent researcher). The discussion will delve into long-term impacts, practical application cases, and potential legal responses to tokenized assets in the capital market.
The event will begin with an opening speech by Richard B. Gabbert, Office Chief of the Crypto Working Group, followed by a keynote address by Chairman Paul S. Atkins and insights from SEC Commissioners including Caroline A. Crenshaw, Mark T. Uyeda, and Hester Peirce.
Notably, the SEC also confirmed rescheduling the decentralized finance themed roundtable "DeFi and the American Spirit" from June 6 to June 9. Registered participants will maintain their attendance status, while the SEC continues to accept new registrations through the official website.
This series of roundtables is part of the SEC's new strategy, marking a shift from a heavily punitive supervision model to a more collaborative and transparent approach. Previously, the newly established SEC Crypto Working Group had organized three discussion sessions on crypto asset classification under securities law, crypto asset transaction structures, and legal challenges surrounding digital asset custody.
