According to Cointelegraph, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to hold another roundtable discussion that may influence future policy changes at the financial regulatory body. The SEC announced that its cryptocurrency task force, led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, will convene a public roundtable on financial surveillance and privacy on October 17. This event will be the sixth such roundtable focusing on digital asset issues at the commission's Washington, D.C., offices since the departure of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
Peirce emphasized the importance of understanding recent developments in privacy-protecting tools to assist the SEC and other financial regulators in crafting policy solutions for the crypto space. The roundtable is part of a series of ten meetings across the United States, scheduled from August through December, as the SEC considers proposed rule changes that could significantly impact market participants. On Thursday, the commission proposed certain exemptions and safe harbors related to the offer and sale of crypto assets, along with modifications to broker-dealer financial responsibility rules, aiming to reduce the regulatory burden on U.S.-operating crypto companies.
Since January, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have appeared to adopt a more lenient approach to enforcement actions and rules affecting crypto companies, dropping several investigations and lawsuits. The CFTC, now led solely by Acting Chair Caroline Pham, stated in August that the agency would align its crypto policy with the White House's directives. Recently, both regulators have expressed interest in exploring a shift to 24/7 capital markets and regulations for crypto derivatives, alongside a coordinated effort to oversee and enable spot crypto trading. This initiative aligns with recommendations released in July by the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.
The authority and responsibilities of both the SEC and CFTC may soon be influenced by a proposed law currently under consideration in Congress. The U.S. Senate's version of a digital asset market structure bill, known as the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, could become law before 2026, according to Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the lawmakers advocating for its passage. This legislative development could further shape the regulatory landscape for digital assets in the United States.
Catherine
