The newly appointed head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paul Atkins, has called for clear regulations in the cryptocurrency sector. In his first remarks as chairman, Atkins stated that market participants engaging with this technology deserve a clear understanding of regulatory rules. This shift marks a significant change from previous leadership, where the agency focused on enforcement cases and non-compliance.
Atkins’ comments come after the SEC’s recent efforts to create new regulations for the sector, pausing or walking away from enforcement cases in some instances. The new chairman has worked with crypto firms in the past and is expected to take a softer approach towards the industry.
The agency has been weighing how securities laws apply to digital assets, an area of tension between the SEC and the cryptocurrency sector. Atkins vowed that the SEC will take action if companies do not abide by US laws, including potentially suspending trading of Chinese companies amid rising trade tensions with China.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/new-us-sec-chair-says-crypto-sector-deserves-clear-regulations-2025-04-25