Paul Atkins, Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), highlighted that crypto assets and tokenization are top priorities for the agency, according to a report by The Block during his speech at DC Fintech Week.
Atkins emphasized the SEC’s goal of establishing a robust regulatory framework that encourages innovation while ensuring the U.S. remains a leading hub for blockchain and digital asset development. “We want to make sure the rules we set up bring people back to the U.S. if they’ve left, and create a structure that makes sense for the future, allowing innovation to thrive,” he stated.
He also suggested that the agency’s name might better reflect its mission as the “Securities and Innovation Commission.” Atkins noted that distributed ledger technology (DLT) remains “the most exciting area of the crypto space.”
Earlier this year, Atkins instructed the SEC team to explore an “innovation exemption”, which would enable companies to test blockchain-based solutions more rapidly. The initiative is expected to be implemented by the end of 2025. “We will propose various solutions, including the innovation exemption, aimed at creating a sort of ‘super-application’ where multiple agencies overseeing crypto assets can collaborate,” he explained.
The Block also reported that the SEC is currently operating with limited capacity due to a government shutdown.
This announcement follows previous steps by the SEC to strengthen collaboration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in overseeing digital asset markets, signaling a continued effort to balance regulation with technological progress.
