SEC regulatory proposal marks ‘important’ step forward from ‘inapt’ crypto rules: Commissioner Peirce
The SEC proposed new crypto rules aimed at replacing vague, ill-fitting regulations with a clearer framework for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. Commissioner Hester M. Peirce said this is a major step toward “clear, sensible, enforceable” rules after years of forcing crypto into inappropriate securities rules. Chairman Paul Atkins also backed the shift, arguing the prior enforcement-first approach pushed investment offshore and reduced investor protection in the U.S. The proposal comes after the Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act, a broader bill to define crypto market oversight. Atkins said the SEC is prepared to act on digital asset rules if Congress does not. Market expectations for the CLARITY Act have weakened, with Galaxy Digital assigning only a 10% chance of passage in 2026.
