SEC Acknowledges Crypto’s Irreversible Role in Financial Markets

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) can no longer entertain the possibility of a blanket cryptocurrency ban, according to Bloomberg columnist Matt Levine. The sector's pervasive influence and institutional adoption have rendered such measures impractical. Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler's aggressive regulatory stance—treating most tokens as unregistered securities—effectively functioned as a de facto prohibition, stifling innovation in community-driven projects.

Levine argues the SEC now faces a binary choice: regulate or be rendered irrelevant. Cryptocurrencies are now deeply embedded in the business models of major financial institutions and tech firms, making indifference untenable. The market's trillion-dollar valuation and growing mainstream adoption have permanently altered the regulatory landscape.