SEC Chair Details Digital Asset Regulation Plans

US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins elaborated on the regulator's strategy for enforcing digital asset fraud under its “Project Crypto” initiative and pending legislation in Congress. During a speech at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Atkins provided insight into the agency’s modernization efforts for regulating digital assets.

Atkins stated that the SEC plans to consider “establishing a token taxonomy” in the near future, grounded in the Howey test, which the SEC uses to evaluate securities, to acknowledge that “investment contracts can come to an end.”

“Commissioner [Hester] Peirce has rightly observed that while a project’s token launch might initially involve an investment contract, those promises may not remain forever,” Atkins commented. He added that “once the investment contract can be understood to have run its course, the token may continue to trade, but those trades are no longer “securities transactions.”

Atkins clarified that during his leadership, the SEC would not classify digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, and network tokens as securities. Tokenized securities, on the other hand, would continue to be regulated by the SEC.

“In the coming months, as contemplated in legislation currently before Congress, I hope that the Commission will also consider a package of exemptions to create a tailored offering regime for crypto assets that are part of or subject to an investment contract,” Atkins stated.

Addressing the market structure bill under consideration in the US Senate, the SEC chair stated:

“[This] is not a promise of lax enforcement at the SEC. Fraud is fraud. While the SEC protects investors from securities fraud, the federal government has a host of other regulatory bodies well equipped to police and protect against illicit conduct.”

Despite the US government shutdown, lawmakers in the House of Representatives were expected to vote on a funding bill, already passed by the Senate, aimed at funding the government through the end of January. The Senate remained in session during the shutdown, with some senators reportedly working on the market structure bill.


Risk Warning: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, investment research, or a recommendation to trade. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Markets.com. When considering shares, indices, forex (foreign exchange), and commodities for trading and price predictions, remember that trading CFDs involves a significant degree of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leveraged products can result in capital loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Before trading, ensure you fully understand the risks involved and consider your investment objectives and level of experience. Cryptocurrency CFD trading restrictions may apply depending on jurisdiction.

Latest news

gold

Thursday, 13 August 2026

Indices

Gold Price Today, August 14: XAU/USD Falls Below $4,350 as Profit-Taking Deepens

sandisk-stock

Thursday, 13 August 2026

Indices

SanDisk Stock Jumps Nearly 14% on Bullish 2030 Targets, Lam Research Gains Over 3%

kospi

Thursday, 13 August 2026

Indices

KOSPI Rises 2.7% Towards 7,000 as SK Hynix Gains 6% and Kioxia Jumps 7%

Thursday, 13 August 2026

Indices

EUR/USD Holds Near 1.1535 as Flat US PPI Supports Fed Pause Bets

gold rate in dubai

Thursday, 13 August 2026

Indices

Gold Rate in Dubai Today Falls as Global Bullion Prices Retreat

brent crude oil

Thursday, 13 August 2026

Indices

Oil Prices Tumble: Demand and Inventory Build

gold-trading

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Indices

Gold Price Today, August 13: Gold Climbs Above $4,400 as Cooler US CPI Cuts Fed Hike Bets

tsmc-stock

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Indices

TSMC Stock Rises 1.7% as AI Infrastructure Rally Lifts Chip Sector

WTI vs Brent Crude Oil

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Indices

Oil Prices Fall Over 1% as OPEC and IEA Cut 2026 Demand Forecasts

bank-of-japan

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Indices

USD/JPY forecast: Rate gap limits impact of US and Japanese intervention