[R]egulators have an obligation to understand, monitor, and — where appropriate — encourage such developments, while simultaneously being prepared to implement safeguards where necessary to protect investors and our markets.

Source: SEC.gov | Opening Remarks at the Fintech Forum

The forum focused on the following three areas:

• Automated investing advice has the potential to give retail investors broader, and more affordable, access to our markets.
• Distributed ledger technology could greatly simplify the trading, settlement and clearing processes, making transactions faster, more efficient, and less expensive.
• Online marketplace lenders and crowdfunding portals are providing individuals and small businesses with new paths to access capital.

Chairwoman White note that “an important concern is how innovators will address issues of cybersecurity and the safety of customer data and assets in a blockchain.”