SEC Chair Atkins Announces Pivot to Proactive Crypto Regulation
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins declared an end to the agency’s aggressive enforcement stance toward digital assets, framing the shift as a necessary evolution for market growth. "The crypto markets have been languishing in SEC limbo for years," Atkins said during his SEC Speaks conference address. "We must stop treating innovation like a threat."
The regulator will draft formal rules accommodating crypto-specific requirements, including unified custody frameworks for both securities and non-securities tokens. This overturns years of what Atkins criticized as reactive subpoena issuance without constructive guidance—a practice he likened to "shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later" tactics.