CFTC Chairman Selig endorses mass tokenization to transform markets

The top US derivatives regulator has a big prediction about where markets are headed. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig says mass tokenization could transform markets by enabling near-instant settlement and real-time collateral mobility. Speaking at the US Treasury Market Conference on September 22, 2026, Selig argued that on-chain finance and continuous trading might drive more change in the next decade than markets saw across the prior several decades combined. What Selig actually said Tokenization turns assets into digital tokens that can live and move on a blockchain. Selig’s view is that this could let collateral shift in real time and let trades settle almost instantly. He also tied the vision to continuous trading, meaning markets that run around the clock. Selig suggested that crypto and precious metals may be prime candidates for that kind of always-on structure. Agricultural and energy products might require tailored strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The CFTC is pursuing a customized path for continuous trading in energy derivatives specifically. Selig framed the whole effort around a principles-based regulatory approach. Instead of writing a rigid rulebook f...