SEC Chair Paul Atkins Declares: ’Very Few Cryptocurrencies Are Securities’ in Landmark Statement

In a seismic shift for regulatory clarity, SEC Chair Paul Atkins drops the bombshell that rattled traditional finance circles—most digital assets aren't securities after all.

Regulatory Waters Clear—Finally

Atkins' statement cuts through years of regulatory ambiguity, giving crypto projects the breathing room they've desperately needed. No more guessing games about which tokens might suddenly face securities charges.

Market Implications—Massive

This positions crypto squarely as the innovation frontier it always was—bypassing outdated securities frameworks that never fit digital assets properly. Expect institutional money to flow where regulatory uncertainty once stagnated.

Traditional finance won't like this one bit—their carefully guarded gates just got a whole lot less relevant. Maybe they should've innovated instead of lobbying.

What is Project Crypto?

Earlier in July, Atkins announced the launch of ‘Project Crypto’ by the SEC. The project aims to create clear rules for crypto distributions, custody, and trading, providing businesses with guidance on token offerings and overall operations. 

While final regulations are still being developed, Atkins said the SEC WOULD consider using interpretative, exemptive, and other authorities to ensure that outdated rules do not stifle innovation.

The efforts come as the TRUMP administration continues to push to maintain the United States’ dominance in global digital asset markets, with a separate Working Group on Digital Assets also calling for a unified framework that promotes innovation. The U.S. House also recently passed three landmark bills relating to the industry, including the GENIUS Act, the first official federal framework for stablecoins.

Atkins added recently that the SEC is also focused on protecting the industry from future challenges such as regulatory overreach or unfair enforcement, highlighting the need for rules that are clear, adaptable, and capable of supporting innovation over the long term.

“We must craft a framework that future proofs the crypto markets against regulatory mischief. I look forward to working with my counterparts across the Administration and Congress to get the job done,” he wrote.