Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken held a meeting with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Crypto Task Force on Monday to address the future of tokenized assets and the infrastructure required for a tokenized trading system.
According to a memorandum filed the same day, SEC officials met with four representatives from Payward, Inc. and Kraken Securities LLC, alongside two lawyers from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. Discussions centred on regulatory requirements, investor protections, and the broader benefits of tokenization in traditional finance.
Tokenizedstocks on the rise
Kraken first unveiled its tokenized stocks service on May 22, allowing non-U.S. investors to trade U.S. equities around the clock. Rival platform Robinhood followed on June 30, launching tokenization-focused layer-2 blockchain and introducing stock token trading for users in the European Union.
This week, Kraken announced the expansion of its tokenized stock products to the Tron blockchain, signaling its push to diversify offerings in the sector. Unlike traditional equities, tokenized stocks trade 24/7 and are not bound by traditional market restrictions.
You may also like: Pyth Network Launches 24/7 Stock and Commodity Indices to Power Crypto Markets
Market still in early stages
Despite growing institutional and retail interest, tokenized stocks remain at an early stage. Data from RWA.xyz shows their total circulation value stands at $360 million, marking an 11% drop in the last 30 days. This accounts for only 1.35% of the $26.5 billion worth of tokenized Real World Assets (RWAs) currently on-chain.
Still, long-term projections remain bullish. Binance Research estimates that if just 1% of the global equities market transitions to blockchain, the sector could exceed $1.3 trillion in market capitalization.
A Kraken survey conducted last week further highlights investor optimism—65% of 1,000 U.S. investors who hold both equities and crypto believe crypto will outperform stocks over the next decade.
Kraken moved into tokenized equities in February 2026
Kraken is no longer only proposing tokenized trading. Its xStocks platform already offers tokenized versions of equities to eligible non-U.S. customers. The tokens are designed to track the value of underlying stocks while allowing them to trade outside traditional market hours and move through blockchain-based infrastructure. Kraken currently lists products including tokenized versions of Nvidia and Tesla shares.
Kraken has also expanded the product beyond simple spot exposure. In February 2026, it launched tokenized-equity perpetual futures for eligible non-U.S. customers, giving traders a way to take leveraged positions based on tokenized stocks.
That makes the company’s strategy more than putting stocks on a blockchain. Kraken is attempting to build a trading environment where tokenized equities can interact with other digital assets and derivatives.
Enjoyed this? Bookmark DeFi Planet, explore related topics, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and CoinMarketCap Community for seamless access to high-quality industry insights
Take control of your crypto portfolio with DEFI PLANET PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.
