This article was first published on TurkishNY Radio.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an exemptive order that changes how one regulated cash product can move. The order allows intraday buying and selling of shares in a government money market strategy at a steady $1.00 price, using a digital share record. In practical terms, investors are no longer forced to wait for end-of-day processing to access liquidity, even though the fund remains regulated under the same legal framework as other mutual funds.
Previously, investors placed orders and waited for the daily NAV. With a tokenized money market fund, the share record can update faster, supporting quicker cash moves for users.
The SEC decision
Mutual funds generally follow forward pricing, meaning orders are executed at the next calculated net asset value. The SEC relief creates a limited exception: certain broker-dealers can trade shares from their own inventory at $1.00 during the day rather than waiting for the next NAV calculation. The order relies on exemptive authority under the Investment Company Act, including relief tied to Section 22(d) and Rule 22c-1, and it also addresses participation by an affiliated dealer through related provisions.
This is not a rewrite of money market rules as the product at the center of the order is designed to maintain a stable price and hold highly liquid, government-oriented instruments, which is the classic playbook for cash management. The innovation is the operational wrapper: the shares are represented digitally, and transfers can be handled in a more modern way while keeping fund oversight intact.
Why a tokenized money market fund matters to crypto markets
Crypto traders talk about liquidity like it is oxygen, and cash is still the canister. A tokenized money market fund matters because it targets the same day-to-day problem stablecoins try to solve, but from the regulated fund side: efficient access to dollar-like value. For institutions and regulated platforms, that difference can decide whether an asset is usable.
The biggest takeaway is the timing upgrade. Intraday access reduces the gap between a decision and the actual movement of cash. That can help with margin management, collateral movements, and portfolio rebalancing, especially for firms that operate around the clock but still depend on traditional market rails for cash sweeps. A tokenized money market fund may not replace stablecoins for open, global transfers, yet it can become a preferred cash sleeve for investors who need familiar rules, disclosures, and custody standards.
What to watch next
The price of Bitcoin is not mechanically linked to this order, so any immediate market reaction should be treated carefully. The more useful lens is adoption. If a tokenized money market fund attracts meaningful flows, it suggests demand for compliant tokenization beyond pilots. It is also worth tracking whether similar applications expand under the same structure, since filings discuss relief that can extend to future eligible government money market funds, subject to conditions.
Conclusion
This is a quiet step, but it is a practical one. It keeps the protections of a regulated cash fund while allowing intraday liquidity at a stable $1.00 price through dealer trading. If tokenization is going to scale, it will likely happen through everyday routines, and a tokenized money market fund fits that pattern. A tokenized money market fund also gives the market a test case for how digital rails can live inside existing rules.
FAQs
What did the SEC actually allow?
It allowed intraday trading at $1.00 through specified dealers, rather than limiting transactions to the next computed NAV.
Is this the same as a stablecoin?
No. A tokenized money market fund is a registered fund product, while stablecoins are typically issued under different structures and risk frameworks.
Does this change the funds investment risk?
The structure changes how shares are recorded and traded intraday, but the fund still follows a government money market approach designed for liquidity and capital preservation.
Glossary of Key Terms
Tokenized money market fund: A money market fund whose share ownership is represented in digital token form.
Forward pricing: Pricing orders at the next calculated NAV.
Rule 22c-1: A rule that generally requires forward pricing for mutual funds.
Exemptive order: SEC permission to operate outside a standard rule under stated conditions.
Intraday liquidity: The ability to trade during the day instead of only at a daily pricing window.
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