The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, led by Chairman Paul Atkins, has placed crypto policy at the top of its rulemaking agenda, calling it a “new day” for digital assets. The agency’s public plan outlines proposals aimed at clarifying the rules for the offer and sale of crypto assets, how firms custody tokens and how digital assets trade on registered platforms.
Key items on the agenda include an April target to propose a rule addressing the offer and sale of crypto assets, including potential exemptions and safe harbors. In the same timeframe the agency plans to recommend changes to Securities Exchange Act rules to govern trading of digital assets on alternative trading systems (ATS) and national exchanges.
The document signals the SEC views digital assets as the leading area for new regulation even as the agency has otherwise been cautious about broad rulemaking. The agenda also flags possible changes to the consolidated audit trail system and proposals that could relax some constraints on securities firms — a combination that suggests regulators want to make the market easier for mainstream financial firms to enter.
Regulatory coordination is already under way: the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission recently issued a joint statement saying registered platforms can handle spot crypto trading and should seek further guidance from regulators. Both agencies describe fast-moving initiatives — labeled internally as “Project Crypto” at the SEC and a “crypto sprint” at the CFTC — aimed at making the U.S. a global leader in crypto infrastructure.
Who’s affected: token issuers, custodians, exchanges, brokers and institutional investors would see the most immediate impact. Proposed rules on custody and trading could change how platforms register and how institutions handle token holdings.
Why it matters: clearer rules could unlock broader institutional adoption, lower transactional friction and attract liquidity — but timelines in agency agendas are often aspirational. Market participants should expect change, while remaining prepared for evolving timelines and enforcement risks.
Source: CoinDesk. Read the original coverage for full details.
