The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has published a new rulemaking agenda that would significantly loosen federal oversight of digital assets, putting crypto at the center of nearly half of the agency’s next 20 proposed rules.
The agenda proposes a suite of reforms that could reshape how tokens are issued, traded and held in the U.S. Key items include proposed rules for the offer and sale of crypto assets (with exemptions and safe harbors), an amendment to the SEC’s interpretation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to allow crypto trading on U.S. securities exchanges, and potential carve-outs or redefinitions affecting broker-dealer and dealer responsibilities.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins framed the package as a move to integrate digital assets into the broader U.S. capital markets while still targeting fraud and bad actors. The regulator’s agenda follows related guidance: the SEC and CFTC recently urged traditional exchanges to explore listing spot crypto, signaling a coordinated push toward mainstream market access.
Why readers should care: these changes could lower barriers for token sales, increase institutional participation, and make custody and trading of crypto more compatible with legacy market infrastructure. At the same time, shifting rules may create transitional uncertainty for firms used to the current regulatory landscape—compliance teams, exchanges and token issuers should prepare for rule drafts and public comment periods.
What’s next: items on the agenda enter the formal rulemaking pipeline, which typically includes draft rules, notice-and-comment periods and lengthy implementation timelines. Outcomes are not guaranteed; stakeholder feedback and legal challenges can alter proposals before they become final.
Source: Decrypt. Read the original coverage for full details.