On June 9, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) held a final roundtable as part of the initiative "Spring Sprint to Crypto Clarity." The event titled "DeFi and the American Spirit" was dedicated to discussing decentralized finance (DeFi) and its alignment with American principles of freedom, innovation, and accountability.
The session was moderated by former SEC Commissioner Troy Paredes. Participants included SEC Chair Paul Atkins, Commissioners Caroline Crenshaw, Mark Uyeda, and Hester Peirce, as well as Richard B. Gabbert from the cryptocurrency task force.
The focus was on the operation of DeFi systems without traditional intermediaries such as banks and brokers. Participants examined how smart contracts enable peer-to-peer lending, trading, and borrowing, and discussed the challenges related to regulating autonomous financial systems.
Questions were also raised about decentralized governance models, where decisions are made collectively by community members. This raises important issues regarding accountability and the potential to combat abuses or systemic risks.
