SEC to Launch President’s Digital Assets Group, Signaling New Era for Crypto Regulation

SEC Chair Paul Atkins announced the imminent launch of the President’s Digital Assets Group during his keynote at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium. The initiative, dubbed 'Project Crypto,' marks a strategic shift away from regulation by enforcement—a contentious approach under former Chair Gary Gensler.

The working group will prioritize implementing recommendations from the White House’s Digital Asset Markets Working Group, framing crypto oversight as part of a broader national strategy. Atkins emphasized balancing investor protection with innovation: 'Rules must be robust enough to prevent abuse but adaptable to technological evolution.'

Collaboration with Congress, federal agencies, and international bodies aims to create cohesive standards. This contrasts sharply with Gensler’s stance that most cryptocurrencies qualify as securities—a view critics argue drove innovation offshore.