SEC Sets January 2026 Launch for Crypto Innovation Exemption
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will implement its long-awaited innovation exemption for cryptocurrency projects in January 2026, allowing token issuances without full SEC registration. Chair Paul Atkins confirmed the timeline during a CNBC interview, framing the move as a deliberate shift from the agency's previous adversarial stance toward digital assets.
The policy—first proposed in July 2025—aims to accelerate product development in decentralized finance and blockchain infrastructure. Regulatory delays caused by October's government shutdown pushed the original year-end target into 2026. 'We've had four years of repression that drove innovation offshore,' Atkins noted, emphasizing the need for domestic crypto competitiveness.
