SEC Chair Atkins Vows Rational Crypto Framework, Abandons Enforcement-First Approach

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins signaled a decisive policy pivot on 12 May, telling participants at the agency’s Crypto Task Force roundtable that his top priority is to craft a “rational regulatory framework” for digital assets. Calling it “a new day at the SEC,” he said future rule-making will replace the ad-hoc enforcement actions that have dominated crypto oversight in recent years.

Atkins outlined three immediate focus areas: drafting clearer guidelines for cryptocurrency issuance, establishing new registration exemptions and safe-harbor provisions, and setting standards for custody and trading. He argued that well-defined rules are essential to protect consumers while allowing U.S. firms to compete globally, adding, “We cannot encourage innovation by trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”

The shift marks a break from the enforcement-first posture associated with former leadership and aligns with broader calls from industry and lawmakers for greater regulatory clarity. Atkins said the forthcoming framework aims to position the United States as a leading hub for on-chain innovation while giving market participants “clear rules of the road.”