SEC Chair delivers verdict: “Ethereum is not a security”
The chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paul Atkins, publicly declared that Ethereum (ETH) is not a security, ending years of uncertainty about the legal classification of the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency. The statement was made on Monday (21), during the Squawk Box program of the American network CNBC.
As Atkins explained, just like Bitcoin, Ether is viewed as a commodity by the SEC, although this position has not yet been formalized through a definitive legal opinion. The declaration comes just before the tenth anniversary of the Ethereum network, marking a symbolic moment for the crypto ecosystem.
“The SEC sees Ethereum as an essential infrastructure for the development of the digital financial market. Thus, it is becoming a pillar of innovation,” stated the chair.
This position also aligns with the legislative advancement of the so-called Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD Act), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 17, 2025. Now, the text awaits review and voting in the Senate.
The proposal seeks to define objective criteria to classify digital assets as securities (under the SEC's jurisdiction) or commodities (under CFTC regulation).
Source: Criptofacil