The US Securities and Exchange Commission is abandoning the 'through coercion' approach and is working on clear rules for digital assets
Changes are brewing in Washington. On June 4, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated at Senate hearings that the agency is launching a new strategy for cryptocurrency regulation. At the center are transparency, standards, and a rejection of the punitive practices of the Gary Gensler era.
"We must abandon the practice of regulation through lawsuits. It's time for a normal, meaningful approach," emphasized Atkins.
What will change: The SEC is moving towards rule-making
The essence of the reform is the integration of the crypto market into the main structure of the SEC, focusing on the issuance, storage, and trading of digital assets. The project proposes the elimination of FinHub, the former center for crypto initiatives, and the transfer of initiatives to the main divisions of the commission.
"We are using the current powers of the SEC to develop standards that meet the needs of the market. They should protect investors and not stifle innovation," explained Atkins.
Focus: Ethereum, Bitcoin, and DeFi under the protection of the law
This concerns the establishment of norms for key areas:
Token issuance (including on Ethereum and L2 platforms)
Asset storage (custodial solutions)
Trading (exchanges, DEX, and OTC)
This is a step towards legal certainty for DeFi and blockchain projects in the USA, including stablecoins, NFTs, and layer two protocols.
The market cautiously rejoices
Against the backdrop of Atkins' statement, market participants have begun to talk about the long-awaited clarity. Developers, lawyers, and institutional investors call this a turning point — especially after the ambiguous actions of the SEC under Gary Gensler's leadership.
"It's time to stop playing catch-up. We need clear rules of the game — and this is exactly what the SEC is now moving towards," commented one of the crypto lawyers involved in a working group with the commission.
Why this is important
Atkins made it clear: the fight against fraud remains a priority, but the main goal is not fines, but building infrastructure for growth.
"Clear rules are not only protection for investors but also the best way to prevent them from falling into traps of scams and manipulations," he noted.
According to Coincu, such a strategy could pave the way for institutional investors in the DeFi and blockchain sector. This pertains to both ETF platforms and decentralized solutions: DEX, L2, custody services.
ETH is waiting for changes
Meanwhile, the market observes. Ethereum ($ETH ) is trading at $2,634, with a market capitalization of $318 billion, and a volume of $15.6 billion over the past day, according to CoinMarketCap. Over the last 24 hours, the asset has decreased by 10.8%, but remains in the spotlight in light of regulatory news.
The USA is tackling the issue systematically
The SEC's change in course is not just new rhetoric. It is a possible shift from 'battles in court' to real legislative formalization of the market.
If Atkins' strategy is realized in regulations, it will become one of the most significant events for the US crypto market in recent years.
