Senate Bill May Keep Tokenized Stocks As Securities and Split SEC-CFTC Oversight, Ripple and Other Firms Urge Dev Protections

• Tokenized stocks remain classified as securities, not commodities.

• Senate bill splits oversight between the SEC and CFTC, clarifying regulatory boundaries.

• Coalition pressure and developer loss data (US dev share 25% in 2021 → 18% in 2025) pushed protections for devs and non‑custodial services.

Meta description: Tokenized stocks confirmed as securities in US Senate crypto bill, giving legal clarity to tokenization firms and investors; learn oversight split, timeline, and next steps.

What does the Senate amendment say about tokenized stocks?

Tokenized stocks are explicitly confirmed as securities in the Senate’s Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2025, ensuring tokenized equity remains regulated under securities law. This preserves compatibility with broker‑dealer frameworks, clearing systems, and existing trading platforms while preventing a commodities reclassification that could create market uncertainty.

How does the bill split oversight between the SEC and the CFTC?

The bill delineates oversight based on the functional nature of a digital asset. Securities‑like tokens fall under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while derivatives and certain commodity‑like tokens fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The Senate Banking Committee will consider SEC provisions first, followed by an Agriculture Committee review for CFTC authority.

Why does classification matter for tokenization projects?

Classification determines compliance obligations for issuers and platforms. Treating tokenized stocks as securities keeps them within established clearing, settlement, and broker‑dealer rules. That reduces legal risk for tokenization firms and helps maintain investor safeguards like disclosure and fraud protections.

Who has pushed for protections in the bill?

A coalition of 112 crypto companies, investors, and advocacy groups urged the Senate to include protections for software developers and non‑custodial providers to avoid misclassification as intermediaries. Major industry names cited in the coalition include Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple, a16z, and Uniswap Labs. The letter cited developer data showing the US share of open‑source blockchain developers fell from 25% in 2021 to 18% in 2025.

When could this legislation reach the president’s desk?

Senate sponsors expect committee votes in the coming months: SEC‑related provisions in the Senate Banking Committee, and CFTC matters in the Agriculture Committee. If committees advance the draft, a full Senate vote could occur as soon as November 2025. Sponsors emphasize bipartisan negotiations to build support.

What did Senator Cynthia Lummis say about timing?

Senator Cynthia Lummis, a lead sponsor, said in an interview with CNBC that “We want this on the president’s desk before the end of the year.” That public timeline frames expedited committee work and floor scheduling if bipartisan consensus holds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tokenized stocks treated the same as traditional securities?

Yes. The bill clarifies that tokenized stocks remain securities, so they are subject to the same disclosure, custody, and trading rules that apply to conventional equities. This ensures continuity with existing investor protections.

Will developers be protected under the new law?

The draft includes provisions requested by a coalition of industry participants to protect software developers and non‑custodial service providers from being unfairly classified as intermediaries, reducing legal risk for open‑source contributors.

How does the bill affect market structure for digital assets?

By splitting oversight between the SEC and CFTC, the bill aims to clarify jurisdictional questions, reduce regulatory overlap, and provide a predictable compliance path for firms building tokenization and trading infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• Legal clarity: Tokenized stocks are confirmed as securities, preserving existing market infrastructure.
• Regulatory split: The SEC will oversee securities‑like tokens; the CFTC will govern commodity‑like tokens and derivatives.
• Industry push: A coalition of firms and investor groups urged protections for developers and non‑custodial services to avoid misclassification.

Conclusion

The Senate amendment confirming tokenized stocks as securities marks a critical step toward regulatory clarity for tokenization projects and market participants. With committee votes expected this year, stakeholders should prepare compliance roadmaps aligned to securities frameworks while monitoring final legislative language and implementation timelines. COINOTAG will track updates and provide analysis as the bill progresses.