SEC Chair Atkins Unveils 'Project Crypto'

SEC Chair Paul Atkins has announced Project Crypto, an agency-wide effort to reshape how the SEC regulates digital assets. The project aims to open a formal rulemaking process for crypto, shifting away from the prior enforcement-heavy posture.

What’s the Scoop?

• Regulatory Overhaul Begins: Project Crypto will examine existing securities rules that impact token issuance, trading, custody, and onchain financial activity.
• Classification Framework Coming: The SEC plans to define asset categories, distinguishing between securities, commodities, stablecoins, and utility tokens.
• Custody and Issuance Revisions: Proposed changes will cover self-custody, token launches, and qualification pathways for blockchain-based asset managers.
• Trading Permissions Under Review: The agency may permit exchanges to list both security and non-security tokens under a single license, including support for staking, tokenized equities, and other onchain primitives.
• Policy Context: The initiative follows pressure from Congress, recent legislation like the GENIUS Act, and shifting political signals favoring domestic crypto adoption.