SEC Chair Announces Regulatory Shift for Crypto, Paving Way for On-Chain Markets

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins declared "crypto's time has come" during a keynote at the OECD's Roundtable on Global Financial Markets in Paris. The SEC will modernize securities rules and expand "Project Crypto" to facilitate on-chain capital markets, marking a departure from enforcement-driven policymaking.

Clear guidelines for tokens, custody, and trading platforms will replace ad hoc enforcement actions. Atkins emphasized that most tokens aren't securities and promised bright-line rules to determine SEC jurisdiction. The framework aims to eliminate legal uncertainty for on-chain capital raising while integrating trading, lending, and staking under unified licenses.

Project Crypto, unveiled in July 2025, will enable tokenized securities and new on-chain asset classes while maintaining investor protections. The initiative positions the U.S. to lead in decentralized finance innovation, with Atkins highlighting the potential for "super-app" trading platforms.