SEC Launches ’Project Crypto’ to Establish U.S. Dominance in Digital Assets

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul S. Atkins unveiled 'Project Crypto,' a regulatory modernization initiative designed to position the United States as the global leader in digital asset markets. The announcement marks a sharp pivot from the previous administration's enforcement-heavy approach, which Atkins criticized for stifling innovation and driving businesses abroad.

'America must do more than just keep pace with the digital asset revolution. We must drive it,' Atkins declared at the America First Policy Institute. The initiative aligns with President Trump's vision of making the U.S. the 'crypto capital of the world,' serving as the SEC's new guiding principle.

Project crypto incorporates recommendations from the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets and the recently enacted GENIUS Act for stablecoins. Key components include clarifying the Howey Test to provide clear guidelines for crypto entrepreneurs and establishing streamlined rules for asset distribution, custody, and trading.