A New Direction for U.S. Crypto Regulation
“A new day at the SEC,” declared Paul Atkins, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, speaking at the OECD Roundtable in Paris.
Atkins said there will be no more ad hoc enforcement actions to dictate crypto policy. Instead, regulators will offer a clear and structured framework for innovators.
He added that this overdue upgrade will allow innovators to flourish in the United States by creating clear and predictable rules of the road.
SEC’s Project Crypto for Future Design
The SEC’s Project Crypto, which aims to integrate blockchain-based markets into American securities law, is at the center of this change.
The project is based on recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets on digital asset markets, which Atkins called “a bold blueprint for innovation.”
Key Features of the Plan Include:
- Clear definitions for digital asset activities.
- Unified oversight for trading, lending, and staking.
- Regulatory modifications for super-apps that offer multiple services.
- Options for diverse custody solutions.
“I think regulators should give the minimum effective dose of regulation to protect investors—and nothing more,” Atkins said, stressing the need for rules that do not favor only incumbents.
Also Read : ECB President Christine Lagarde Calls for Stricter EU Stablecoin Rules
Learning from Europe’s MiCA Framework
Atkins praised the EU’s MiCA framework as a “robust digital assets regime.” He urged U.S. lawmakers to learn from Europe in order to remain competitive in the global digital economy.
He reiterated the importance of cooperation: “Countries must join hands to further freedom and prosperity.”
Different Approaches to Crypto Globally
While the SEC moves toward reform, other regulators are taking different paths:
- The European Banking Authority (EBA) has finalized rules requiring EU banks to hold large capital buffers against unbacked cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- The U.S. allows banks to engage in crypto activities without pre-approval.
- Switzerland has updated its distributed ledger technology (DLT) laws to support expanded custody services and stablecoin guarantees.
This global divergence shows that while the world is racing to regulate, the U.S. now signals it wants to lead in clarity and innovation.
