The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rolled out an ambitious rulemaking agenda that could reshape cryptocurrency regulation and ease long-standing Wall Street complaints about heavy compliance burdens.
The agenda, released Thursday, sets out broad proposals that aim to clarify how digital assets fit into existing securities laws while opening new pathways for trading and investment.
Among the initiatives are draft rules for the offer and sale of digital assets, possible exemptions and safe harbors, and guidance on how broker-dealer rules apply to crypto. The SEC also signalled it may allow digital assets to trade on national securities exchanges and alternative trading systems.
“This regulatory agenda reflects that it is a new day at the Securities and Exchange Commission,” SEC Chair Paul Atkins said. “The items on the agenda represent the commission’s renewed focus on supporting innovation, capital formation, market efficiency and investor protection.”
Big Shift for Crypto and Wall Street
If approved, these moves would be a significant victory for the digital asset industry, which has long sought tailored rules that integrate crypto into mainstream finance. Industry leaders have often accused Washington regulators of stifling innovation while pushing firms offshore.
The SEC’s turn comes after a sharp change in political winds. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to be a “crypto president.”
Since taking office, his regulators have dropped lawsuits filed under President Joe Biden’s administration against Coinbase, Binance and other exchanges. Biden’s SEC had accused them of running illegal trading platforms and exposing investors to fraud.
This reversal has energized crypto advocates, but it has also raised questions about investor safety. Can looser rules protect ordinary Americans while fuelling innovation?
Beyond Crypto: Reducing Compliance
The SEC agenda is not limited to digital assets. The commission plans to propose a “rationalization” of corporate disclosure requirements aimed at making filings clearer, reducing risk for investors, and cutting unnecessary paperwork.
It also intends to reduce compliance burdens around shareholder proposals, a long-standing demand from public companies who say existing processes are costly and time-consuming.
These proposals reflect a broader balancing act between innovation, market integrity, and investor protection. According to Bloomberg, financial firms are closely watching to see how the rules will be drafted and whether they will open the door to wider institutional adoption of crypto assets.
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