The SEC Rallies BlackRock, Nasdaq and Fidelity for Pivotal Tokenization Summit

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the agenda and panelists for its upcoming roundtable on tokenization, scheduled for May 12 in Washington, D.C.

According to a release published on May 5, the event will be led by Commissioner Hester Peirce and the SEC’s Crypto Task Force.

Wall Street Weighs In on Tokenized Finance

Titled “Tokenization — Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet,” the session will feature two panel discussions. The first, moderated by Cravath’s Jeff Dinwoodie, includes representatives from BlackRock, Nasdaq , Invesco, Franklin Templeton, and other institutions exploring tokenized finance.

A second panel will focus on long-term implications and legal frameworks, with input from firms including Robinhood, Securitize, and Blockchain Capital.

The roundtable follows the SEC’s broader initiative to gather public input on emerging crypto technologies through a series of events.

“Tokenization is a technological development that could substantially change many aspects of our financial markets,” Peirce said. “I look forward to hearing ideas from our panelists on how the SEC should approach this area.”

Separately, the SEC has rescheduled its June roundtable “DeFi and the American Spirit” to June 9. The agency says these discussions are intended to inform future rulemaking and guide regulatory strategy around digital assets.

SEC Ends Case Against Crypto Influencer

The SEC has formally ended its legal proceedings against Ian Balina , a crypto influencer charged in 2022 for promoting unregistered securities.

In a joint court filing dated May 1, the SEC and Balina agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice, preventing it from being reopened. The dismissal also included termination of an interlocutory appeal tied to the matter.

Balina was previously been found in violation of U.S. securities laws for promoting the SPRK token during its $30 million initial coin offering in 2018.

The SEC alleged that he failed to disclose his financial compensation while endorsing the token on YouTube and Telegram, a breach of Section 17(b) of the Securities Act.

A federal judge sided with the agency’s interpretation, determining that the SPRK token qualified as a security under the Howey Test.

The case drew attention for its implications around influencer accountability in the digital asset space. While the SEC secured an initial ruling, the eventual dismissal indicates a shift in enforcement strategy following recent legal setbacks and changes in leadership priorities.

The agency has recently dropped or narrowed several high-profile crypto cases amid increasing calls for clearer regulatory frameworks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):