SEC proposes transfer agent rule, sets event to figure out round-the-clock U.S. trading

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed a rule involving transfer agents and is planning an event focused on how round-the-clock trading could work in U.S. markets, according to CoinDesk. The two items place market infrastructure and trading-hours policy on the regulator’s agenda.

Transfer agents are firms that maintain records of securities ownership, process transfers and support functions such as dividend payments and shareholder communications. Rules affecting them can matter for issuers, brokerages, investors and other participants that rely on accurate ownership records and settlement-related operations.

The planned event on continuous U.S. trading signals that the SEC is examining questions raised by markets that operate beyond traditional business hours. Digital-asset trading commonly runs continuously, while major U.S. securities markets have historically centered on scheduled trading sessions. Any move toward broader trading availability would involve operational, investor-protection and market-structure considerations.

The headline does not specify the proposal’s requirements, the format of the SEC event or whether either effort would lead to a final rule or changes to U.S. trading hours. A proposal would generally be subject to the SEC’s rulemaking process before it could take effect.