- SEC Chair Paul Atkins announced plans to update U.S. securities rules to support blockchain and crypto innovation.
- The SEC will move away from enforcement-driven regulation, promising clear rules for tokens, trading platforms, and custody.
- Most crypto tokens will not be classified as securities under new guidelines, with clear criteria for SEC oversight.
- The SEC’s “Project Crypto” aims to enable tokenized securities, decentralized finance, and more on-chain market activity in the U.S.
- Atkins stressed the need for balanced regulation to encourage innovation while protecting investors, mentioning similar moves by Nasdaq and further AI integration in markets.
Paul Atkins, Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), announced a major shift in the agency’s approach to cryptocurrency and blockchain regulation on September 10 in Paris at the OECD’s Roundtable on Global Financial Markets. Atkins pledged to modernize the U.S. securities rulebook and expand the SEC’s “Project Crypto” initiative to support on-chain markets and financial innovation.
The SEC will now prioritize creating clear and consistent rules for crypto tokens, custody, and trading platforms instead of relying primarily on enforcement actions. Atkins described this move as a step toward making the U.S. a leader in digital asset innovation and promised “policy will no longer be set by ad hoc enforcement actions.” The agency aims to introduce regulations that allow entrepreneurs to raise capital and operate blockchain-based activities without legal uncertainty.
Atkins stated that the majority of crypto tokens will not be classified as securities, with the SEC introducing bright-line rules to define its oversight. He committed to providing a licensing framework for platforms offering trading, lending, and staking services, and said custody rules will be updated to offer more options for both investors and intermediaries. The scope of “Project Crypto” will include pathways for tokenized securities, the creation of new digital asset classes, and supporting decentralized finance software—all with required investor protections.
During his remarks, Atkins also discussed the growing role of AI in financial markets, describing a future where autonomous systems can execute trades and manage risk quickly and securely. He said these technologies, paired with blockchain, “could deliver faster and cheaper markets while opening advanced strategies to a broader set of investors.”
Atkins noted that the SEC wants to keep financial innovation in the U.S., highlighting recent steps by major players such as Nasdaq, which filed for approval to trade tokenized securities. He also addressed topics such as foreign company listings, global accounting standards, and the need for stable funding for the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Atkins closed by emphasizing the importance of balanced regulation, stating, “Crypto’s time has come,” and that the U.S. should lead the next phase of financial innovation.
For more on Atkins’ speech, visit the official SEC announcement. For reference to “Project Crypto,” see Atkins’ earlier remarks. Nasdaq’s recent statement and application are available on LinkedIn.
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