The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has closed its long-running investigation into Ondo Finance without filing charges, providing significant regulatory clarity for the Real World Assets (RWA) protocol. The news triggered an immediate market reaction, with the native ONDO token surging over 6% intraday from around $0.47 to nearly $0.50, accompanied by a more than 300% spike in trading volume across major exchanges.
The investigation, which began in 2023 under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, examined Ondo's tokenized Treasury products and whether the ONDO token itself should be classified as a security. The closure under current Chair Paul Atkins signals a shift toward a more flexible regulatory approach toward digital assets. This decision removes a major overhang that had created uncertainty for the project and its investors for years.
With this regulatory hurdle cleared, Ondo Finance is positioned to accelerate its U.S. expansion and tokenized asset initiatives. The company already holds investment adviser registration and recently acquired Oasis Pro Markets, which operates as a broker-dealer and transfer agent. This structure legally enables Ondo to offer tokenized Treasuries and public equities under existing securities regulations.
The project plans to unveil its next major developments at the Ondo Summit on February 3, 2026, where it will present new tools for issuing and trading tokenized assets and a longer-term roadmap shaped by the recent regulatory clarity. Chair Atkins has publicly described tokenization as a key step for modern financial systems, creating a friendlier environment for Ondo's expansion plans to move traditional assets like Treasuries and listed equities on-chain while remaining compliant with federal rules.
This regulatory milestone comes amid growing optimism about Ondo's long-term prospects. Analysis suggests the ONDO token could reach ambitious targets, with conservative forecasts of $2.50–$3.80 in 2025 and optimistic scenarios projecting $9.00–$12.00+ by 2030, contingent on mass adoption of tokenized assets and favorable macroeconomic conditions. Key drivers include Ondo's first-mover advantage in tokenized U.S. Treasuries, the growth of the RWA sector from billions to trillions in value, sustainable tokenomics, and broader crypto market cycles.
