SEC Moves to Clear Crypto Rules and Support Super-App Platforms
US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins announced a major shift in the agency’s approach to digital assets, signalling a move away from enforcement-driven policy toward a unified regulatory framework for crypto markets.
Speaking at the OECD Roundtable in Paris, Atkins declared:
“It is a new day at the SEC. Policy will no longer be set by ad hoc enforcement actions. We will provide clear, predictable rules of the road so that innovators can thrive in the United States.”
Are Most Crypto Tokens Not Securities
Central to Atkins’ plan is legal clarity on which digital assets fall under securities regulations.
He stated plainly:
“Most crypto tokens are not securities, and we will draw the lines clearly.”
#BREAKING: 🚨"Most crypto tokens are NOT securities and we will draw the lines clearly" - SEC Chairman Paul Atkins pic.twitter.com/tc0NNUkxUy<br/>— Subjective Views (@subjectiveviews) September 10, 2025<br/> a
The aim is to give investors and businesses a definitive framework to operate within, reducing legal uncertainty that has historically driven talent and capital abroad.
Project Crypto Paves the Way for Unified Regulation
Under the Project Crypto initiative, the SEC plans to modernise securities regulations to better accommodate blockchain-based markets.
Atkins highlighted that the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets has delivered a “bold blueprint” to guide the effort.
The initiative will allow trading platforms to combine multiple services—including trading, lending, and staking—under a single regulatory licence.
Super-App Platforms Could Transform Crypto Services
Atkins expressed support for crypto “super-apps” that integrate a range of digital asset services.
These platforms would enable simultaneous trading of both securities and non-securities tokens, with the flexibility to offer different custody solutions, including self-custody.
He said,
“I believe regulators should provide the minimum effective dose of regulation needed to protect investors, and no more. We should not overburden entrepreneurs with duplicative rules that only the largest incumbents can bear.”
Looking to Europe for Inspiration
Atkins praised the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework as a comprehensive approach to digital assets, suggesting that the US could learn from Europe’s early regulatory steps.
Meanwhile, EU banks are now required to hold higher capital reserves against unbacked cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether, with draft rules placing these assets in “Group 2b” with a 1,250% risk weight.
Balancing Innovation With Investor Protection
The SEC’s vision aims to reduce duplicative regulations while maintaining core protections.
By allowing platforms to operate under a single licence and offering flexible custody options, Atkins hopes to foster innovation and keep US markets competitive.
He described self-custody as a “core American value” and emphasised the importance of enabling entrepreneurs to raise capital on-chain without endless legal hurdles.
Can the US Become a Global Crypto Hub
Atkins positioned these reforms as a foundation for the US to reclaim leadership in digital finance, enabling market participants to benefit from integrated platforms while adhering to clear, predictable rules.
Reflecting a direct link between the SEC’s strategy and the White House agenda, he said,
“President Trump has tasked me and my counterparts across the Administration with making America the crypto capital of the world.”
This approach contrasts sharply with the more conservative stances seen in Europe and other jurisdictions, highlighting a US push for innovation with measured regulatory oversight.
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