SEC Chairman Atkins Signals Shift Towards Tokenization Regulation

Paul Atkins, the Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), recently expressed his views on the regulation of digital assets and the impending boom in tokenization. During an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on July 2, Atkins emphasized that tokenization is the next step towards achieving greater efficiency across markets. He stated, "Tokenization is imminent, and we at the SEC should be focused on how we advance innovation in the marketplace."

Atkins acknowledged that the regulatory framework for digital assets has been unclear, stating, "The rules of the road have not been clear. We had regulation by enforcement—that day’s over. For now, my whole goal is to make things transparent from the regulatory aspect." This shift in approach comes as the SEC has been dropping several lawsuits against key players in the crypto industry, signaling a broader regulatory change in the digital asset sector.

Atkins' comments align with a report from Binance Research, which indicated that real-world asset tokenization skyrocketed by over 260% in the first half of 2025. This trend towards digitized finance is seen as a major win for crypto proponents, despite market uncertainty. Atkins' appointment as SEC head has been widely embraced, partly due to his reported holdings of up to $6 million in crypto assets.

During his swearing-in ceremony in April, Atkins outlined his top priority as providing a formal regulatory foundation for digital assets. He stated, "Through a rational, coherent, and principled approach, we will work to ensure that the United States is the best and most secure place in the world to do business." This approach aims to foster innovation while maintaining regulatory transparency and security.