SEC Chair Paul Atkins says tokenization rules will advance despite CLARITY Act defeat

Oct 2, 2026 01:34 (22d ago)

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said tokenization rules will advance despite the CLARITY Act’s defeat.
SEC and CFTC plan joint guidance defining tokenized securities and an innovation exemption.
Sunayna Tuteja said both agencies prepared for the bill’s failure and continued issuing guidance.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said on Sept. 29 that the agency will use its existing authority to develop tokenization rules despite the CLARITY Act being rejected by Congress. The SEC plans to work with the CFTC on a joint interpretation defining tokenized securities and to pursue an innovation exemption allowing on-chain fundraising. Atkins said tokenized securities in the United States must retain dividend and voting rights. Separately, Sunayna Tuteja, former chief innovation officer at the U.S. Federal Reserve, said the SEC and CFTC had prepared for the legislation’s failure and have continued issuing guidance almost daily since the Senate rejected cloture.