SEC Hits the Road: 10-City Crypto Tour to Empower U.S. Blockchain Startups

The SEC is packing its regulatory briefcase—but this time, it's not just subpoenas. The agency's 10-city crypto roadshow kicks off this month, aiming to 'engage' startups instead of crushing them. Finally.

From Enforcement to Handshakes

Gensler's team is swapping courtroom dramas for coffee chats—visiting Austin, Miami, and other crypto hubs. The goal? Bridge the gap between bureaucrats and builders. (Or at least avoid another exodus to Malta.)

The Real Agenda?

Behind the smiley-face outreach: A desperate play for relevance as DeFi protocols laugh at jurisdictional lines. Pro tip, Gary: Maybe skip the 'How Do Tokens Work?' PowerPoint in Silicon Valley.

One cynical finance jab: Nothing unites regulators like watching 24-year-olds flip their ICO profits into beachfront DAOs.

The SEC’s crypto task force is heading out on a national tour to hear directly from the crypto community. After holding roundtables in Washington, D.C. this past spring, the Task Force now wants to connect with individuals who were unable to attend those events.

Here are the details! 

Crypto Roundtables to Visit 10 Cities Nationwide

Commissioner Peirce and her team will visit cities across the U.S. in the coming months. They are especially interested in meeting with founders of small, early-stage crypto projects, those with 10 or fewer employees and less than 2 years in operation.

According to the SEC, any future rule changes could have a wide impact on the industry. That’s why this outreach is meant to be broad and inclusive, ensuring the voices of smaller builders are part of the regulatory conversation.

Here’s the full schedule of the upcoming stops:

• August 4: Berkeley, California
  
• August 19: Boston
  
• September 4: Dallas
  
• September 15: Chicago
  
• September 25: New York City
  
• October 3: Irvine, California
  
• October 24: Cleveland
  
• October 29: Scottsdale, Arizona
  
• November 12: New York City (second stop)
  
• December 5: Ann Arbor, Michigan

SEC Ramps Up with Project Crypto, AI Task Force 

This roadshow comes after the agency recently launched “Project Crypto” to modernize rules and support blockchain-based trading. Chair Paul Atkins aims to reduce outdated regulations and support innovations like tokenized assets and super apps.

SEC’s previous roundtables focused on key topics like crypto regulations, custody of digital assets, and DeFi infrastructure. Attendees included voices from top firms like Fidelity, BlackRock, and Nasdaq, legal experts, crypto advocates, and former SEC officials.

The SEC is also launching a new AI-focused Task Force led by Valerie Szczepanik, SEC’s Chief AI officer. The new AI Task Force aims to boost the SEC’s tech capabilities.

U.S. Leaders Call for Crypto Comeback

The mood in Washington is shifting. Top U.S. officials are signaling a more open stance toward crypto, urging companies to return and build on American soil. 

The U.S. has entered the Golden Age of Crypto.

Under @POTUS, we are exploring new possibilities in decentralized computing and digital payments to unlock the potential of blockchain technology.

So start your companies here. Launch your protocols here. And hire your workers… pic.twitter.com/oKe1eaXRNO

In a recent speech, SEC Chair Paul Atkins urged companies to “reshore the crypto businesses that fled,”. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that this is the “golden age of crypto,” and has urged the founders to build and hire in the U.S.