U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins signaled a decisive policy pivot on 12 May, telling participants at the agency’s Crypto Task Force roundtable that his top priority is to craft a “rational regulatory framework” for digital assets. Calling it “a new day at the SEC,” he said future rule-making will replace the ad-hoc enforcement actions that have dominated crypto oversight in recent years.

Atkins outlined three immediate focus areas: drafting clearer guidelines for cryptocurrency issuance, establishing new registration exemptions and safe-harbor provisions, and setting standards for custody and trading. He argued that well-defined rules are essential to protect consumers while allowing U.S. firms to compete globally, adding, “We cannot encourage innovation by trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”

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