Plume Network, a layer-2 blockchain built to bring real-world assets (RWAs) onchain, has achieved a major regulatory milestone by registering as a transfer agent with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The move positions the company to manage tokenized securities under U.S. law — a key step toward integrating traditional finance (TradFi) with blockchain infrastructure.

Announcing the registration on social media, Plume said the approval represents a significant advancement in its mission to modernize capital markets through blockchain-based solutions. By becoming an SEC-registered transfer agent, Plume can now perform critical back-office functions for securities issuers — traditionally handled by centralized intermediaries — directly onchain.

Related reporting: Plume Network Secures SEC Transfer Agent Registration, Paving the Way for Onchain Securities Revolution

Transfer agents are responsible for maintaining shareholder records, overseeing ownership transfers, and managing corporate actions such as dividends and proxy voting. Plume’s registration enables it to automate and digitize these processes while maintaining compliance with U.S. securities regulations.

In a statement, the company said its system allows “onchain replication of core transfer agent functions,” including “direct reporting to SEC and DTCC systems,” referring to the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, the entity responsible for settling most U.S. securities transactions.

Source: Plume Network

Plume’s regulatory recognition marks a key development in bridging traditional financial systems with decentralized architecture — a vision long pursued by blockchain innovators seeking institutional legitimacy.

The firm’s progress follows a $20 million funding round in December 2024 led by Brevan Howard Digital, Huan Ventures, and Galaxy Ventures. Since then, Plume claims to have facilitated more than $62 million in tokenized assets via its institutional-focused fixed-income vault, Nest Credit.

Institutional RWAs: A Market with Untapped Potential

Despite the growing buzz around RWAs, institutional adoption remains relatively limited. Estimates place the total value of tokenized assets at around $33 billion, but Plume Network’s CEO and co-founder, Chris Yin, told Cointelegraph that the figure can be misleading.

“These things move incredibly slowly — you have to show value, you have to show adoption first,” Yin said during Token2049 in Dubai, comparing the current RWA landscape to Bitcoin’s early growth years.

Source: WatcherGuru

Yin explained that most activity so far has centered on tokenized U.S. Treasuries and private credit — instruments favored for their stability and yield. While this marks important progress, Yin believes the technology’s real promise lies in its ability to overhaul how companies raise capital, interact with investors, and manage cap tables.

“Tokenization creates an entirely new mechanism for fundraising and investor engagement, while improving transparency across financial markets,” he said.

RWA Momentum Despite VC Slowdown

Although venture capital funding across crypto and blockchain sectors has contracted sharply since 2022, infrastructure projects tied to RWAs continue to draw significant attention. Investors appear to view tokenization as one of blockchain’s most tangible and scalable use cases — particularly as major financial institutions and asset managers experiment with digital securities.

Platforms like Robinhood and Kraken have begun rolling out tokenized equity products, while the SEC is reportedly reviewing rule changes that could allow traditional stocks to be tokenized and traded on blockchain networks.

If approved, such reforms could accelerate institutional adoption and establish blockchain as a parallel settlement layer for mainstream finance — a vision that Plume and other RWA pioneers are working to realize.