# Rule 611 Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Rule 611", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

SEC Proposes Repealing 20-Year Core Rule: The Biggest Barrier to Tokenized US Stocks Is Disappearing

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has voted to propose repealing Rule 611 of Regulation NMS, the "order protection rule" that has been a cornerstone of U.S. equity market structure since 2005. This move, while a story of traditional finance, represents a major potential policy shift for tokenized U.S. stocks, removing a key structural barrier. Rule 611 mandates that trading centers cannot execute trades at prices inferior to protected quotes displayed on other exchanges. This framework is fundamentally incompatible with Automated Market Makers (AMMs) used in decentralized finance (DeFi). AMMs execute trades along bonding curves with price slippage and cannot comply with the rule's real-time, price-by-price requirements, meaning any tokenized stock liquidity pool would be in violation. The proposed repeal would replace the prescriptive rule with a principles-based "best execution" obligation on broker-dealers. This allows brokers to route orders to on-chain liquidity pools like AMMs, fulfilling their duty through periodic review rather than per-trade enforcement. The proposal is backed by significant historical context. SEC Chair Atkins, who voted against Reg NMS in 2005 alongside Commissioner Glassman, is now acting on his decades-old dissent. They argued Rule 611 would distort markets and push liquidity into dark pools rather than improve transparency—a prediction validated by current SEC data showing nearly half of trading now occurs off-exchange. The SEC's proposal explicitly connects to the crypto industry, citing academic work that Rule 611 has prevented innovation like AMMs and atomic settlement in stock markets. The process has been deliberate, following public roundtables and comments. While tokenized securities face other regulatory hurdles, this repeal is seen as a critical first step in clearing the path for next-generation market structure innovation.

marsbit06/15 09:09

SEC Proposes Repealing 20-Year Core Rule: The Biggest Barrier to Tokenized US Stocks Is Disappearing

marsbit06/15 09:09

SEC Market Structure Proposal Draws Attention From Tokenized Stock Advocates

The SEC has proposed eliminating two key equity market structure rules, Regulation NMS Rules 611 and 610(e), which govern order routing and the display of quotes. While the proposal is aimed at simplifying traditional markets and reducing costs, it has drawn attention from advocates for tokenized stocks. The reason is that current rules, which require checking the best prices across venues, are difficult to reconcile with on-chain trading models like automated market makers (AMMs). A more flexible structure could theoretically make it easier to design compliant blockchain-based systems for trading tokenized equities. However, the proposal is not specifically about crypto, and tokenized stocks would still need to meet numerous other securities regulations. The change is now open for public comment and faces a lengthy process before any final adoption.

bitcoinist06/12 22:06

SEC Market Structure Proposal Draws Attention From Tokenized Stock Advocates

bitcoinist06/12 22:06

The U.S. SEC Wants to Dismantle a 2005 Rule, What Tokenized Stocks Are Seeing

The U.S. SEC has proposed rescinding two key rules, Rule 611 (the trade-through rule) and Rule 610(e) (restrictions on locked and crossed quotations), from the 2005 Regulation NMS. The move aims to modernize equity market structure by reducing regulatory complexity and granting trading venues and brokers more flexibility in order routing, quote display, and trade execution. The SEC argues that the highly automated, fragmented, and competitive modern market, with trends like 24/7 trading and the potential use of distributed ledger technology for tokenized securities, has diminished the necessity of these rules, which were designed to protect the best displayed prices. Their removal could lower compliance costs (estimated at $54.2-$77 million annually) and may create space for innovative trading mechanisms, including those relevant to tokenized stocks, such as smart contracts and AMMs. However, the proposal is still in the public comment phase and does not address other core challenges for tokenized securities, like custody or registration.

Foresight News06/12 09:34