Quick Takeaways
- Kraken Talks Crypto with SEC to figure out how tokenized stocks can work within U.S. regulations.
- Non-U.S. users can now trade tokenized U.S. equities 24/7 on Kraken.
- Though still small, the tokenized stock market could grow into a $1.3T industry.
Kraken Talks Crypto With SEC About the Future of Tokenized Stocks
This week, Kraken Talks Crypto in a big way, sitting down with the U.S. SEC’s Crypto Task Force to talk about what’s next for tokenized assets. On the table: how to build a system for trading tokenized stocks legally and securely, without losing the speed and flexibility that crypto offers.
The meeting wasn’t just a casual chat. Kraken brought in its top people from Kraken Securities and parent company Payward, along with legal experts from WilmerHale. They covered everything from compliance issues to how a tokenized stock exchange could work under existing laws.
And the timing couldn’t be more relevant. Traditional financial institutions and regulators are pushing the SEC to crack down on tokenized stocks, saying they don’t offer the same investor protections as regular stock markets. But that’s exactly why Kraken wants to open this conversation, to find a better way forward.
Kraken Talks Crypto Expansion as Tokenized Stocks Go Worldwide
While Kraken Talks Crypto with regulators, it’s also building out its tokenized stock offerings for the rest of the world. Back in May, Kraken launched its 24/7 tokenized stock trading platform for non-U.S. users. That means you can now buy shares of major U.S. companies any time, day or night, no Wall Street schedule required.
Not long after, Robinhood jumped into the game too, rolling out tokenized U.S. equities for users in the EU in late June.
Recently, Crackon announced that it was expanding into the Tron blockchain. Why? Because it is faster, more scalable and better favorable for global users who want real -time access to high fees or long waiting time markets.
Still, the tokenized stock market is just getting started. Right now, it’s worth about $360 million, which is actually down 11% over the last month, according to RWA.xyz. That’s just a tiny fraction—1.35%—of the total $26.5 billion in tokenized real-world assets out there.
But here’s the kicker: if even 1% of the world’s stock market goes on-chain, this could become a $1.3 trillion market. That’s not a pipe dream, it’s what a Binance report projects if adoption keeps rising.
Why More Investors Are Betting on Crypto Over Traditional Stocks
It’s not just companies pushing the idea forward; investors are paying attention, too. A recent Kraken survey found that 65% of U.S. investors who hold both stocks and crypto believe that crypto will outperform equities over the next 10 years.
That belief isn’t just about price gains. It’s about what crypto makes possible: decentralized markets, 24/7 access, fewer intermediaries, and programmable assets that go beyond what traditional finance can offer.
Kraken’s Mark Greenberg, who leads the company’s consumer business unit, summed it up well. He said tokenized stocks shouldn’t just copy Wall Street; they should improve on it. Think faster settlement times, global reach, and assets you can actually program.
Kraken Talks Crypto Future Amid Regulatory Questions
So, what’s next? Well, that depends a lot on how regulators respond. As Kraken Talks Crypto with the SEC, the hope is to create guidelines that support innovation without putting investors at risk.
If the SEC works with platforms like Kraken instead of against them, we could see a future where tokenized stocks are the norm, not the exception.
That means a more open, flexible, and globally connected financial system.
On the flip side, unclear or overly strict rules could stall progress. So this meeting could turn out to be a turning point for the entire industry.
