On July 7, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its regulatory agenda for 2026, and it revealed that the agency is planning a major overhaul this month. One of the agendas is
On July 7, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its regulatory agenda for 2026, and it revealed that the agency is planning a major overhaul this month.
One of the agendas is "Regulation Crypto" as per which the SEC could propose crucial rules relating to crypto assets.
The SEC could potentially add certain registration exemptions for crypto products, establish a safe harbor for issuers concerned about securities laws, and allow fundraising up to a certain limit.
Chairman Paul Atkins had already addressed these issues in detail in a March speech, and the agency's latest move only takes them forward.
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A new crypto startup wouldn't have to immediately go through the SEC's full securities registration process. Instead, it could get a temporary exemption up to four years.
During that period, the project could develop its network while making necessary disclosures to investors.
Atkins suggested crypto startups could raise up to a defined amount—he mentioned $75 million—in any 12-month period without going through full SEC registration. The startups would still have to provide necessary financial disclosures and statements.
The goal is to make capital raising easier while protecting investors, the SEC chairman said.
Trending on TheStreet RoundtableMany crypto projects begin with developers building a blockchain network, then launching the token, maintaining the network, and upgrading the protocol.
But more often than not, the project becomes decentralized, and the developers are no longer in managerial control roles. Several decentralized finance (DeFi) projects fall into this category.
Atkins proposed that once the developers are no longer the driving force behind a crypto project, the token wouldn't be treated as a security.
It means once a project's developers have finished all the work promised to investors, the token itself should no longer remain under the SEC's securities rules.
As per the SEC, the "Regulation Crypto" agenda is "economically significant" and is at the proposed rule stage.
The agency said the proposed rules may provide greater certainty to the market, facilitate capital formation, and allow crypto markets to innovate while protecting investors at the same time.
Though the SEC has a busy calendar, "Regulation Crypto" is slated for July.
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