SEC preps 24/7 trading, approves tokenized securities

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing for around-the-clock equities trading — a norm crypto already operates on — digging into plans at an event held the same morning it approved tokenized securities. The moves extend the SEC's earlier proposal to modernize transfer agent rules and officially recognize blockchain as a valid record of securities transactions, part of its broader preparation for round-the-clock markets. Analysts say the rule changes could also ease legal friction for tokenized securities by eliminating duplicate offchain shareholder records. The SEC has also proposed a five-year "Innovation Exemption" letting blockchain venues list tokenized stocks with full shareholder rights without registering as exchanges, alongside plans for a roundtable on 24-hour trading.