Under pressure from the Trump administration, the SEC has rolled out “Project Crypto”—a regulatory modernization effort targeting the digital asset sector.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins cited a recent White House report as the impetus, outlining key reforms:
- Brokerage licensing reforms to cut bureaucratic hurdles.
- Hard separation between crypto commodities and securities.
- Temporary exemptions for emerging DeFi projects and ICOs.
Atkins also took aim at overreach, stating that DAOs shouldn’t be a regulatory workaround and that self-custody must remain legal.
The move suggests a middle-ground approach, balancing innovation with oversight as the U.S. vies for crypto leadership.
