Before You Buy That Tokenized Stock, Here's What Global Regulators Say Could Go Wrong

Core Insights - The global securities regulator has expressed concerns about the risks associated with tokenization, indicating that existing regulations may not adequately protect investors from these new vulnerabilities [1][2] - The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has highlighted that while many tokenization risks are covered by current regulations, the underlying blockchain technology introduces additional risks that could be unexpected for investors [2][6] Tokenization Risks - Investors may not fully understand what they own when purchasing tokenized assets, as different tokenization structures can lead to confusion about ownership rights [3] - The IOSCO report suggests that issuers often fail to provide clear evidence of the efficiency gains promised by tokenization, leaving much of the potential benefits unproven [7] Market Sentiment - There is a divide among financial institutions regarding the viability of tokenization, with some, like Nasdaq, aggressively pursuing blockchain-based trading, while others remain skeptical about its benefits [5][6] - The report indicates that the anticipated efficiency improvements from tokenization, such as lower trading costs and faster settlements, are not consistently realized in practice [6][7] Adoption and Future Potential - Despite limited current adoption, tokenization is viewed as having the potential to transform the issuance, trading, and servicing of financial assets, according to IOSCO [4]