a16z and DeFi Education Fund Advocate for Regulatory Safe Harbor for DeFi Apps
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), in collaboration with the DeFi Education Fund, has petitioned the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish a SAFE harbor for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. The proposal argues that certain DeFi platforms should be exempt from broker-dealer registration requirements, as they do not pose the risks that traditional securities regulations aim to mitigate.
The move follows growing support for DeFi from the White House and SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, with recent regulatory discussions highlighting the need to foster innovation in the sector. A Trump-era crypto report had previously recommended relief for some DeFi service providers from stringent registration rules.
This marks a16z's latest effort to shape crypto policy, following earlier proposals on network tokens, airdrops, and NFTs. The venture capital firm has also been an active investor in DeFi projects, underscoring its vested interest in a favorable regulatory environment.