Woofun AI reports that Ben Slavin, global ETF head at Bank of New York Mellon, identifies FOMO sentiment as the primary catalyst for asset managers accelerating their tokenized ETF strategies. Slavin disclosed that BNY is currently managing multiple tokenized ETF projects, noting that client urgency to capture early blockchain finance opportunities outweighs concerns regarding incomplete regulatory environments and infrastructure readiness.

This shift suggests that blockchain networks are emerging as a critical distribution channel, offering 24/7 share transfer capabilities, reduced settlement times, and broader global investor access.

Meanwhile, Slavin highlighted significant reputational risks associated with hundreds of well-known ETFs trading in tokenized form within unregulated markets without direct sponsor authorization. This issue has become a central discussion point among BNY's asset management clients. Despite ongoing industry exploration of secondary trading mechanisms and regulatory integration, Slavin observed that asset managers increasingly favor "getting in early" over waiting for definitive regulatory clarity.