SEC Brings BlackRock, Fidelity, and Nasdaq to the Table for Tokenization Roundtable

The SEC will host a roundtable on May 12 to discuss tokenization in U.S. capital markets. Major financial players like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Nasdaq will join the discussion. The event aims to explore tokenization’s potential impact on financial markets and regulation. The U.S. SEC is set to hold a high-profile roundtable on asset tokenization on May 12, titled Tokenization: Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet. The event will feature major figures from traditional finance and the digital asset space. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to Deliver Keynote Kicking off the session at 1 p.m. ET, SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins will deliver a keynote speech addressing the regulatory and innovation dynamics of tokenization. His remarks will be followed by comments from Commissioners Caroline A. Crenshaw, Mark T. Uyeda, and Hester M. Peirce. The event is part of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force initiative and will be open to the public via webcast. Walk-in attendance is also welcome at the venue, subject to security screening. Related: SEC Crypto Task Force Web Portal Goes Live to Clarify Regulations TradFi Heavyweights Lead First Panel: “Capital Markets 2.0” The first discussion panel, “Evolution of Finance: Capital Markets 2.0,” will run from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and be moderated by Jeff Dinwoodie (Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP). Participants include Cynthia Lo Bessette from Fidelity, Eun Ah Choi from Nasdaq, Will Geyer from Invesco, Sandy Kaul from Franklin Templeton, and Robert Mitchnick from BlackRock. Other panelists include: Christine Moy (Apollo) Johnny Reinsch (Tokenized Asset Coalition) Christian Sabella (DTCC) Alex Zozos (Superstate) These leaders will explore how tokenization is reshaping market infrastructure and capital flows, with insights from firms actively deploying or piloting tokenized assets. Panel Two Looks to the Future of Tokenization After a short break, the second session, “The Future of Tokenization,” will begin at 4 p.m. and run through 5:30 p.m., moderated by Tiffany Smith (WilmerHale). This session leans more into the crypto-native and legal perspectives, with speakers including: Hilary Allen (American University) Gene Hoffman (Chia Network) Johann Kerbrat (Robinhood) Kelly Mathieson (Canton) Sidney Powell (Maple Finance) Georgia Quinn (Securitize) Joshua Rivera (Blockchain Capital) Angela Walch (Independent Researcher) The topics will range from legal frameworks and systemic risk to institutional adoption and decentralized finance (DeFi) innovation. Ultimately, the participation of top executives from BlackRock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, Nasdaq, and Robinhood, among others, suggests strong institutional interest in shaping the regulatory narrative around tokenization. Related: RWA Market Hits Record $240 Billion: The Tokenization of Everything? With growing attention on real-world asset tokenization and blockchain-based capital markets, the SEC’s engagement may lead to updated policy frameworks.