SEC Chair Paul Atkins praises crypto proposal

Paul Atkins used a September 1 social-media post to promote the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed Regulation Crypto Assets framework, calling it “our most historic step yet to cement America as the crypto capital.” The SEC had already unveiled the proposal on August 18 as a new rule package for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. The proposal would create a tailored offering regime, including two Securities Act exemptions and a conditional safe harbor, according to the agency. Atkins has tied the effort to a broader SEC push to bring crypto issuance and trading activity back onshore. ### What exactly did Atkins praise on September 1? The SEC’s August 18 proposal is titled “Regulation Crypto Assets,” and it would create what the agency called a “clear and fit-for-purpose framework” for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets. In its press release, the SEC said the rule follows a March 2026 interpretive release on how federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and transactions. (sec.gov) Atkins said in his August 18 statement that the Commission was “charting a road to invite innovators back to the United States.” In the same statement, he said the package would create tailored offering exemptions and a safe harbor for non-security crypto assets that are subject to an investment contract. ### What is in the Regulation Crypto Assets proposal? (sec.gov) The SEC said the proposal includes two exemptions from Securities Act registration requirements. The first would permit offerings of up to $5 million during a four-year period, and the second would permit offerings of up to $75 million during each 12-month period. Under both exemptions, issuers would have to provide principles-based narrative disclosures, and issuers using the larger exemption would also have to provide financial statements and ongoing reports. (sec.gov) A separate part of the proposal would create a conditional safe harbor from the term “investment contract” in the definition of “security.” If the conditions are met, the SEC said, a crypto asset would be deemed not to be subject to an investment contract for purposes of those securities-law definitions. ### How does Atkins describe the policy goal? (sec.gov) Atkins said in the SEC’s August 18 statement that earlier SEC practice had forced crypto issuers into rules “not adopted with these assets in mind,” and he said that approach had driven investment offshore. He said the new package was intended to facilitate capital formation and allow crypto innovation to flourish in the United States. (sec.gov) A July 7 statement on the SEC’s 2026 regulatory agenda used similar language. Atkins said then that the agency was working to “ensure that the United States is the crypto capital of the world” by creating clearer rules for capital raising, custody and tokenized securities trading. ### Is this already final SEC policy? The SEC described Regulation Crypto Assets as a proposed rule, not an adopted one. (sec.gov) The agency’s rulemaking page says it is seeking public comment on file number S7-2026-27, and its public-comments page shows submissions have already been received. The SEC’s overview page for the proposal links to the news release, fact sheet, proposed rule text and comment portal. (sec.gov) The page was last reviewed or updated on August 20, according to the agency. ### Where does Congress fit into this? Atkins said on August 18 that legislation remains “indispensable” and that the SEC would continue to support Congress in delivering the CLARITY Act to President Donald Trump’s desk. (sec.gov) That means the chairman is presenting the SEC proposal as one part of a broader crypto-policy effort rather than a complete substitute for legislation. (sec.gov) The next formal step is the SEC comment process on file S7-2026-27, which remains open on the agency’s rulemaking page alongside the proposed text, fact sheet and submitted comments. (sec.gov 1) (sec.gov 2)