SEC Chair Paul Atkins Pushes for Clear Blockchain Rules to Keep the U.S. a Leader in Innovation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is moving in a direction that could reshape the landscape of digital finance. SEC Chair Paul Atkins, speaking at the OECD roundtable on global markets, called for a clear and predictable framework for raising capital on-chain.

“No More Legal Uncertainty for Entrepreneurs” Atkins criticized the SEC’s past approach, which he argued held back entrepreneurs rather than empowering them. “American businesses shouldn’t be spending more on lawsuits than on product development,” he said, stressing that most crypto tokens should not be classified as securities. He urged an end to ad hoc enforcement and unpredictable interpretations, pushing instead for solid and understandable rules of the road for both investors and startups.

Project Crypto: A New Foundation for Capital Markets Atkins centered his speech on the ambitious initiative known as Project Crypto, supported by the Trump administration, aimed at modernizing outdated securities laws. 👉 Key goals of the project: Define when a token qualifies as a security and when it does notConsolidate licensing processes into a single frameworkOpen the door for tokenized equities, stablecoins, and DeFi productsBring the U.S. closer to the model of “super-apps” already thriving in Asia, where payments, savings, and investments converge in one platform Atkins warned that if the U.S. fails to adapt, it could fall behind Europe, where the MiCA framework is already setting global standards for digital assets.

Regulation as a Catalyst for Innovation The aim is not overregulation but establishing a “minimum effective dose” of rules: Strong enough to protect investors,Flexible enough to foster innovation in tokenized securities, algorithmic stablecoins, and decentralized exchanges. Atkins believes this will once again make the U.S. a launchpad for capital and innovation.

Collaboration With the CFTC and Next Steps The SEC and the CFTC have scheduled a joint roundtable for September 29. The focus will be on how, under a proper regulatory framework, the U.S. can reintroduce products like perpetual contracts and DeFi trading to its markets. “Our work has never been more interconnected, and the wave of innovation ahead has never been more dependent on the depth of our cooperation,” Atkins said.

Washington Shifts Course Just months ago, U.S. digital asset regulation seemed fragmented and unpredictable. Now, a new path is taking shape: this summer, Congress passed the first-ever federal law on stablecoins, and a broader Market Structure Bill defining the roles of the SEC and CFTC is still moving forward. 👉 If Atkins’ vision comes to life, the U.S. could reclaim its position as a global leader in blockchain finance.

#PaulAtkins , #SEC , #CryptoRegulation , #blockchain , #defi

Stay one step ahead – follow our profile and stay informed about everything important in the world of cryptocurrencies! Notice: ,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“