The US Securities and Exchange Commission has closed its
investigation into the New York-based tokenization platform Ondo Finance. The
probe began in 2023 and ended without any charges.
Separately, Ondo received Liechtenstein
approval last month to offer tokenized stocks and ETFs across the European
Union and wider European Economic Area. The approval followed Ondo Finance’s
integration with cryptocurrency exchange Bitget and Bitget Wallet, allowing
non-US users to access tokenized real-world assets, including stocks and ETFs.
SEC Clears Ondo Multi-Year Investigation
Ondo said that it received formal notice from the SEC that
the “confidential, multi-year” investigation was closed. The review examined
whether Ondo’s tokenization of real-world assets complied with federal
securities laws. It also assessed whether the ONDO token qualified as a
security.
The company said, “The probe examined whether Ondo’s tokenization of
certain real-world assets complied with federal securities laws as well as
whether the ONDO token was a security.”
The SEC has formally closed a confidential Biden-era investigation into Ondo — without any charges.The inquiry began in 2024, focused on whether Ondo’s tokenization of certain real-world assets complied with federal securities laws as well as whether the ONDO token was a… pic.twitter.com/yV4xVX7Qrx
— Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance) December 8, 2025
Crypto “Enforcement Eases” After SEC Leadership Change
According to a report by Crypto in America, the SEC opened
the inquiry in October 2023 under former Chair Gary Gensler, whose tenure was
marked by stricter enforcement toward crypto firms. Since Paul Atkins became
SEC chair, the agency has closed several crypto-related cases, including those
involving Coinbase, Ripple, and Kraken.
Tokenized Securities Could Enter US Markets
Ondo said the investigation began during a period of
regulatory uncertainty. It described the environment as defined by “caution,
confusion, and occasionally overbroad enforcement actions” and noted it was
“one of the only firms focused on tokenizing publicly listed equities at
scale.” The company added, “Being early, and being successful, came with
scrutiny.”
It said the closure marks the end of one chapter and the start of
another, where tokenized securities could become a “core part of the US capital
markets.”
Most tokenization platforms continue to focus on customers
outside the United States, offering tokenized versions of US-listed stocks and
ETFs mainly to European clients, including Kraken-owned Backed, the issuer of
xStocks.
This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.
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