📝 Executive Summary
Galaxy’s Alex Thorn says a plan to scrap rules on stock orders and quotes would remove a major barrier to tokenized stocks trading on decentralized platforms.
The SEC's proposal to scrap Rule 611 could catalyze growth of tokenized US stocks on decentralized exchanges by removing compliance obstacles, according to Galaxy's Alex Thorn.
The SEC’s plan to scrap Rule 611, which Galaxy’s Alex Thorn calls a major barrier for tokenized US stocks, could accelerate the tokenization of equities on decentralized platforms. Increased trading of tokenized versions of US stocks may attract new liquidity and demand for the underlying securities, providing a modest tailwind for the S&P 500. The direct causal chain links deregulation to expanded market access and innovation in equity trading.
The move could bolster tokenized stock trading, potentially driving up demand for the underlying S&P 500 constituents as tokenization broadens investor access and liquidity. However, the near-term impact is likely limited given the nascent state of tokenized equity markets.
Over the mid-to-long term, if tokenized stocks gain traction, they could siphon some volume from traditional exchanges, but also attract new crypto-native investors to US equities, possibly net-positive for overall markets.
The SEC is in an early stage; any formal proposal and comment period would take months. Implementation is unlikely before 2025, making this a mid-term catalyst.
Galaxy’s Alex Thorn says a plan to scrap rules on stock orders and quotes would remove a major barrier to tokenized stocks trading on decentralized platforms.
Rule 611 is part of the National Market System that requires stock orders to be routed to the best available price and execute at the best displayed bid or offer. It is designed to ensure investors get fair pricing but is difficult for decentralized trading platforms to comply with.
Eliminating the rule removes a key regulatory hurdle that prevents tokenized stock trading on blockchains. Decentralized exchanges could then list and trade tokenized equities without needing to meet traditional order protection standards, opening the door to innovation and liquidity.
Galaxy Research is a prominent crypto firm, and its endorsement signals that established industry players view this rule removal as a watershed moment. It suggests that the SEC is moving toward accommodating blockchain-based securities trading.