SEC Chairman Paul Atkins announced the intention to simplify regulation for DeFi platforms.
Additionally, he noted the need to support DeFi developers.
Overall, Republicans in the agency dominate and are focused on easing conditions for the crypto market.
Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Paul Atkins stated that the regulator is working on a policy that may free decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms from certain regulatory barriers. This was reported by CoinDesk, citing the closing session of the SEC roundtable.
"I have instructed SEC staff to explore the possibility of changes to the Commission's rules to provide necessary assistance to issuers and intermediaries seeking to administer financial systems on the blockchain," Atkins said.
According to him, such potential regulatory leniency could become an "exception for innovation," allowing companies to quickly bring blockchain-based products and services to market.
Atkins stressed that DeFi developers should not be held responsible for how their software products are used.
"Many entrepreneurs are developing software that operates without the oversight of any operator," he explained.
Although such technologies may seem fantastic, "blockchain allows for the creation of an entirely new class of software that performs these functions without intermediaries."
"We should not automatically fear the future," Atkins emphasized.
Republicans at the SEC, who currently outnumber Democrats (three to one), are actively advocating for a more lenient approach to the crypto market.
While discussions on regulation are mainly focused on centralized exchanges and brokers, DeFi generally remains overlooked. However, now the Republican majority is eager to change that.
Commissioner Hester Peirce, who heads the newly formed crypto group at the Commission, emphasized the importance of protecting free speech:
"The SEC should not violate the First Amendment by regulating someone who is simply publishing code on the grounds that others use that code for activities that the SEC typically regulates."
At the same time, she warned:
"Centralized structures cannot escape regulation simply by labeling themselves as decentralized."
For his part, the founder of the decentralized exchange ShapeShift, Erik Vorhees, jokingly recalled:
"When I received my first call from the SEC 12 years ago, I never thought I would be invited to speak before the Commission. […] I am grateful for the change in tone and approach of the Commission. This is definitely a positive for America."
It is worth noting that at the SEC's third meeting on May 12, 2025, dedicated to tokenization, Atkins was present for the first time as the regulator's chairman and mentioned the Commission's intention to develop a rational regulatory framework.