The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is unveiling a new rulemaking plan to reform pre-existing crypto regulations. The agenda will see the regulator make broad proposals to revamp cryptocurrency regulations and reduce rules that Wall Street and the crypto industry have deemed burdensome. The announcement is the latest in a line of pro-cryptocurrency decisions the SEC has already made in 2025, embracing the industry it previously ruled over with an iron fist.
The SEC outlined several of its initiatives to overhaul existing cryptocurrency policies, something Chair Paul Atkins previewed in July. Those include proposing rules about the offer and sale of digital assets, which the SEC said could potentially include certain exemptions and safe harbors, and clarifying how its broker-dealer rules apply to crypto. Additionally, the regulator says it will consider amending its rules to allow for crypto to be traded on national securities exchanges and alternative trading systems. Such decisions would be a huge win for the digital asset industry, which is already on the rise in 2025.
“This regulatory agenda reflects that it is a new day at the Securities and Exchange Commission,” Atkins said in a statement. “The items on the agenda represent the commission’s renewed focus on supporting innovation, capital formation, market efficiency, and investor protection.”
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This week, the SEC has already fueled cryptocurrencies’ higher prices by clearing the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ to offer spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading. Furthermore, the regulator said earlier this summer it plans to hold several crypto roundtables later this year to discuss the flourishing industry and ways to regulate it safely while still allowing it to grow. This is a complete 180-degree turn from how the SEC under former chair Gary Gensler ran crypto last year. Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the regulator has become far more pro-crypto, paving the way for the industry to surge.
The landmark approval of the GENIUS stablecoin act, as well as numerous crypto ETFs this year, has set the stage for the crypto industry to continue its growth. However, things don’t appear over for the SEC yet in terms of crypto regulation and reform. Indeed, the regulator also announced plans to propose a plan for “rationalization” of disclosures. The agency’s core work involves establishing disclosure requirements aimed at enhancing transparency and mitigating risk for investors. The SEC also flagged a plan to “reduce compliance burdens” for public companies in connection with shareholder proposals.
