The Blockchain Association has called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to advance an innovation exemption for decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenized equity trading. According to NS3.AI, this request comes in response to Citadel Securities' recent push for more stringent regulatory measures. Citadel contends that numerous DeFi protocols operate similarly to traditional exchanges, warranting tighter oversight. Meanwhile, SEC Chair Paul Atkins has indicated that the agency will soon invite public commentary on related issues as part of broader regulatory efforts.