The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to convene a pivotal roundtable discussion on May 12, 2025, focusing on the transformative potential of tokenization in financial markets. The event, titled “Tokenization: Moving Assets Onchain – Where Traditional Finance (TradFi) and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Meet,” will take place at the SEC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM ET and will also be accessible via a live webcast without the need for registration.
Leadership and Panel Composition
Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, who leads the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, emphasized tokenization as a groundbreaking technology with the capacity to significantly reshape various facets of financial markets. Peirce expressed anticipation for insights from panelists on how the SEC should approach regulatory frameworks in this emerging area.
The roundtable will feature a distinguished lineup of participants, including SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins, Commissioners Caroline A. Crenshaw and Mark T. Uyeda, and Crypto Task Force Chief of Staff Richard B. Gabbert. Industry heavyweights such as BlackRock, Fidelity, Nasdaq, Robinhood, Franklin Templeton, Invesco, Apollo Management, and the Tokenized Asset Coalition will also be represented, reflecting the growing convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology.
Agenda and Discussion Topics
The program is divided into two main sessions:
Capital Markets 2.0: Moderated by Jeff Dinwoodie of Cravath, this panel will explore how tokenized assets are evolving capital markets. Panelists include executives from Fidelity, BlackRock, Nasdaq, Invesco, Franklin Templeton, Apollo Management, and others.
The Future of Tokenization: Led by Tiffany Smith of WilmerHale, this session will focus on regulatory considerations and the integration of blockchain technology within existing financial frameworks.
The roundtable aims to address how tokenization can facilitate asset trading, management, and accessibility by representing real-world assets on blockchain networks, potentially revolutionizing traditional financial systems.
Broader Context and Market Impact
This event is part of the SEC Crypto Task Force’s broader initiative to engage with the crypto industry through a series of roundtables designed to clarify regulatory approaches and support innovation. The task force, established in January 2025, has been actively working to create a more favorable environment for digital assets, including dropping several high-profile investigations recently.
The announcement of the roundtable has already influenced market sentiment, with Bitcoin’s price rising by 2.3% shortly after the news, indicating increased optimism about regulatory clarity in tokenization and digital asset markets. Ethereum also experienced gains, and trading volumes surged on major exchanges, signaling heightened investor interest.
Access and Participation
The SEC encourages public attendance both in person-registration required-and online, where the event will be freely webcast without registration. A link to the live stream will be made available on the SEC’s official website on the day of the event.
Additionally, the Crypto Task Force has rescheduled its upcoming roundtable on decentralized finance, “DeFi and the American Spirit,” from June 6 to June 9, with prior registrations automatically transferred.
This roundtable marks a significant step in the SEC’s efforts to navigate the intersection of traditional finance and decentralized technologies, potentially shaping the future regulatory landscape for tokenized assets and DeFi integration. The financial and crypto communities will be closely watching the outcomes for signals on the direction of U.S. crypto regulation and institutional adoption.
