Capital Markets Regulation

Definition ∞ Capital Markets Regulation refers to the rules and laws governing the issuance, trading, and oversight of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, and derivatives. These regulations aim to protect investors, ensure market fairness, and maintain overall financial stability. They establish frameworks for disclosure, conduct, and market infrastructure, facilitating orderly and transparent capital formation. The regulatory scope typically extends to exchanges, brokers, and other market participants.
Context ∞ The key discussion regarding capital markets regulation in the digital asset space involves adapting existing frameworks to novel crypto assets. Its situation highlights a need for clarity on classifying digital tokens as securities or other financial instruments, which then determines applicable oversight. A critical future development to watch for is the harmonization of international regulatory approaches to digital asset markets, aiming to prevent arbitrage and ensure consistent investor protection across jurisdictions.