Paul Atkins, SEC leader, outlines the tokenization of assets on blockchain as the future of Wall Street.
In a speech that marks a turning point for US economic policy, Paul Atkins, current chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), defined "tokenization" not as a passing fad, but as the fundamental pillar upon which must be built. rebuilding the infrastructure of capital markets in the United States.
During a recent and comprehensive interview with Fox Business, Atkins outlined his vision for the regulatory body, moving away from the skepticism of past administrations to embrace technological innovation as a necessity for national security and economic competitiveness.
Atkins, known for his free-market approach and deep understanding of financial mechanics, argued that the current system, while robust, operates on decades-old technological rails. Therefore, his proposal It aims at modernization through the integration of blockchain technology and the tokenization of real assets (RWA), innovations that will allow the United States to maintain its global financial hegemony.
Atkins' stance on emerging technologies is not isolated and directly reflects the current White House administration, aligning with President Donald Trump's promises to make the country the "crypto capital of the planet" and to stop the brain drain of technological innovation to more friendly jurisdictions in Europe and Asia.
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During his conversation On Fox Business, Atkins emphasized that tokenization transcends mere cryptocurrency speculation. For the SEC chairman, the true value lies in this technology's ability to modernize the "plumbing" of the financial system. Currently, stock market settlement involves a series of intermediaries and clearinghouses that, while they have reduced their processing times (recently to T+1), remain inefficient compared to the capabilities of instant settlement. on-chain.
The vision presented by Atkins suggested that we are not just talking about new types of assets, but about making traditional assets—stocks, bonds, real estate—move more efficiently, transparently, and cheaply on the blockchain. Tokenization, broadly speaking, allows the representation of ownership of these assets on a blockchain, which facilitates the 24/7 value transferIt eliminates counterparty risk through smart contracts and drastically reduces operating costs for financial institutions.
Atkins noted that resistance to this technology has put US markets at a disadvantage. While other countries are moving forward with pilot programs for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) or legal frameworks for digital securities, the US has become bogged down in jurisdictional debates.
"The problem we've seen here in recent years is that, historically, the SEC has never necessarily been at the forefront of driving new innovations. It's always been a little behind the market."Atkins said.
Therefore, under his leadership, the SEC seeks to reverse this reality, understanding that chain settlement is not just a technical improvement, but a necessary evolution to handle the volume and speed of the modern digital economy. The vision is a market where friction is reduced to zero, allowing for greater liquidity and democratizing access to financial instruments that were previously reserved for large capital holdings due to their high entry costs.
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The second pillar of Atkins' strategy is dismantling the "regulation by enforcement" policy that characterized the SEC's previous era. In line with the Trump administration's directives, Atkins advocates for establishing clear rules of the game that foster innovation within U.S. borders rather than punish it.
In the interview, it was highlighted that regulatory uncertainty had been the main obstacle to the institutional adoption of blockchain technology. Large banks and asset managers have been waiting on the sidelines, fearful of legal repercussions. However, Atkins seeks to change this narrative by providing a framework of “safe harbors” and clear guidelines on what constitutes value and what is a commodity in the digital environment.
This regulatory opening is strategic. The Trump administration has identified the digital asset sector as a key industry for GDP growth in the next decadeBy facilitating tokenization, Atkins is not only fulfilling his mandate to protect investors and maintain fair markets, but he is also implementing a state policy designed to attract global capital. The premise is simple: if the United States offers the deepest, most liquid, and legally secure market for tokenized assets, global capital will flow to New York and Chicago, not Singapore or Dubai.
This shift also entails a review of digital asset custody and the approval of new financial products, such as more variations of spot ETFs and the integration of regulated stablecoins into the interbank payment flow. Atkins thus positions himself as the legal architect who will translate pro-crypto political enthusiasm into tangible and actionable regulations.
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Paul Atkins's arrival as chairman of the SEC and his statements on Fox Business symbolize the end of institutional hostility toward blockchain technology in the United States. By placing tokenization at the heart of his administration, Atkins acknowledges that the future of finance is digital, programmable, and instantaneous.
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