Speaking before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins outlined plans to develop formal guidance on token classification, aligning the agency with the anticipated crypto market structure legislation known as the CLARITY Act.
Aiming For Lasting Crypto Clarity
Atkins told lawmakers that regulatory certainty for digital assets is long overdue and pledged that the Commission is prepared to act once Congress finalizes the CLARITY Act. He emphasized that a comprehensive federal framework would provide much‐needed clarity for both investors and innovators.
While noting that SEC staff—under Commissioner Hester Peirce’s leadership of the agency’s Crypto Task Force—have offered more guidance over the past year than in the previous decade, Atkins argued that durable reform ultimately requires bipartisan legislation.
In his view, no regulatory adjustment undertaken solely by the Commission can “future‐proof” the rulebook as effectively as a clear market structure law passed by Congress.
As lawmakers continue their work, Atkins said the SEC intends to collaborate closely with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to bridge the gap until legislation is enacted. He and CFTC Chairman Mike Selig plan to coordinate through a joint initiative known as Project Crypto.
As part of that effort, regulators will examine the development of a token taxonomy designed to define digital assets more precisely and clarify which rules apply to different categories.
The agencies are also considering tailored exemptions that could allow market participants to transact directly on blockchain networks, a move aimed at accommodating innovation while maintaining oversight.
Atkins Signals Regulatory Overhaul
Beyond digital assets, Atkins used his testimony to signal a broader reassessment of existing regulatory systems. He announced that he has directed SEC staff to conduct a comprehensive review of the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT), the market surveillance system launched in November 2016.
The review will examine the following areas: governance, funding, cost efficiency, system design, scope, regulatory utility, and cybersecurity safeguards, encompassing the crypto sector as well.
Throughout his remarks, Atkins reiterated his broader regulatory philosophy. He said oversight should be intelligent, effective, and carefully tailored within the SEC’s statutory authority.
In his view, the existing framework has at times made the path to becoming a public company more restrictive and expensive, layering on requirements that may create more friction than benefit.
Meanwhile, the broader market has seen a notable downtrend, with crypto prices sharply retracing and sparking fears of an unfolding bear market. As of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) has returned to the $65,000 level after failing to surpass the $70,000 resistance level earlier in the week.
Ethereum (ETH) has followed suit, mirroring BTC’s price action and currently trading at around $1,916 per token. Consequently, the total market capitalization has plummeted to nearly half of its October highs, currently valued at $2.23 trillion.
Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
