SEC Advances 24-Hour Trading Talks, Proposes Blockchain-Aware Transfer Rules

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is examining two linked pieces of market modernization: round-the-clock equities trading and the infrastructure that records and transfers securities ownership. Extending trading beyond conventional hours could broaden access for overseas and retail investors, but would require exchanges, broker-dealers, market-data systems, surveillance and clearing operations to function with far less downtime. Transfer agents are also central to any expansion of tokenized securities.

On Sept. 1, 2026, the SEC released the agenda for a Sept. 17 roundtable at its Washington headquarters, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Three panels will cover market readiness, operational resilience and the expected effects of 24-hour trading. The same day, the agency proposed transfer-agent overhaul S7-2026-30, which would add two rules, rescind one and update forms and requirements to reflect electronic communications and blockchain use. Comments are due 60 days after Federal Register publication.