SEC reaffirms tokenized stocks must follow existing securities laws

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued a joint statement clarifying that tokenized securities — including tokenized stocks — are subject to existing federal securities laws and must comply with applicable regulatory obligations ^[1][4].

The guidance, published Jan. 28 by the Division of Corporation Finance, the Division of Investment Management, and the Division of Trading and Markets, divides tokenized securities into two primary categories: issuer‑sponsored and third‑party‑sponsored, and explains how securities statutes and rules apply to each category ^[2][4].

Industry coverage noted the clarification could enable regulated on‑chain equity offerings while underscoring that issuers, intermediaries and platforms will remain bound by established securities frameworks when dealing with tokenized instruments ^[3][1].

The statement signals that market participants offering or facilitating tokenized stock products should expect assessment and oversight under existing securities laws and related regulatory requirements ^[1][2].