Wall Street Moves a Step Closer to 24/7 Stock Trading, Bringing Round-the-Clock Trading Closer
What Happened
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveiled a five-year regulatory exemption that allows certain platforms to offer trading in tokenized US stocks. These are blockchain-based digital tokens that represent real shares and can potentially be traded around the clock with near-instant settlement. The SEC said token holders must retain the same rights as traditional shareholders, while companies can object to having their shares tokenized.
Key Takeaways
The move accelerates the global push toward 24/7 financial markets. It comes shortly after South Korea announced plans to explore extended and eventually round-the-clock trading infrastructure, reflecting a broader trend of making stock markets operate more like crypto markets. If adopted widely, tokenized stocks could blur the line between traditional exchanges and digital-asset platforms, enabling investors to trade equities anytime rather than only during market hours.