SEC to Host Tokenization Roundtable on May 12, Eyes Future of Onchain Assets

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold a public roundtable on May 12 to explore the future of tokenization in traditional finance. The event, titled “Tokenization — Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet,” will take place at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will be streamed live.

The session will run from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will be led by Commissioner Hester Peirce. The agenda includes high-level discussions with representatives from BlackRock, Fidelity, Nasdaq, Robinhood, and Securitize.

Focus on Tokenized Assets and Capital Markets

The roundtable will be split into two sessions. The first, “Capital Markets 2.0,” will be moderated by Jeff Dinwoodie of Cravath. The second, “The Future of Tokenization,” will be led by Tiffany Smith of WilmerHale. Panelists will examine how blockchain-based tokenization can change asset issuance, trading, and regulation.

According to Commissioner Peirce, “Tokenization is a technological development that could substantially change many aspects of our financial markets.” She emphasized the need for thoughtful input on how regulators should approach the emerging sector.

Regulatory Interest in RWAs Grows

The event follows a recent increase in the SEC’s engagement with real-world asset (RWA) projects. In April, tokenization firm Ondo Finance met with the SEC’s Crypto Asset Working Group to present a proposed framework for tokenized securities. The group also discussed relief mechanisms to support responsible innovation.

The SEC had previously hinted at tokenization being a 2025 priority. A planned regulatory sandbox for real estate tokenization, discussed with officials from El Salvador, signaled growing institutional interest—though participants from that meeting will not attend the roundtable.

Institutional and Retail Perspectives

The list of speakers suggests a focus on both institutional and retail applications. BlackRock and Nasdaq are expected to address tokenization in traditional financial instruments. Meanwhile, firms like Robinhood and Securitize will likely discuss tokenized equities and other RWA implementations.

Despite a lack of clarity on the SEC’s exact priorities, the composition of the panels indicates a broad scope—spanning compliance, infrastructure, and long-term market implications.