The U.S. regulator may soon permit third-party issuance of blockchain-based stock tokens without company authorization.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing an “innovation exemption” framework to allow tokenized stocks on decentralized finance platforms. The proposal, expected as early as this week, would let third parties issue blockchain-based tokens tied to publicly traded equities without requiring approval from the underlying companies.
Under the exemption, DeFi platforms could list these tokens, but risk losing eligibility if the products fail to provide shareholder rights like voting or dividends. The move follows growing demand for digital asset integration in traditional markets but stops short of full regulatory endorsement.
No immediate market reaction was reported, though the proposal could expand access to equity-linked digital assets while maintaining investor protections.