The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced plans to hold four additional roundtables focused on cryptocurrency regulation in the coming months.
SEC's Roundtable Plans
The first of the upcoming roundtables, scheduled for April 11, will focus on shaping regulatory frameworks for crypto trading platforms. This will be followed by a session on crypto custody on April 25. On May 12, experts will discuss tokenization and the transition of traditional assets onto blockchain networks. Finally, DeFi will take center stage during the June 6 roundtable.
Shift in Regulatory Tone Under New Leadership
The SEC’s evolving approach to crypto regulation comes on the heels of a leadership change. Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda, who assumed office following Gary Gensler’s departure on January 20, has signaled a departure from the agency’s previously aggressive enforcement stance. Uyeda has expressed intentions to reshape the regulatory framework with a more pragmatic outlook. During the March 21 roundtable, titled “How We Got Here and How We Get Out — Defining Security Status,” the discussion revolved around the classification of crypto assets.
Future of Crypto Oversight
Under Uyeda’s leadership, the SEC appears to be rolling back some of its more stringent policies introduced during Gensler’s tenure. On March 17, Uyeda proposed scrapping a rule introduced under the Biden administration that would have imposed stricter custody requirements on crypto-focused investment advisers. Furthermore, Uyeda recently called for reconsidering proposed regulations that would classify crypto firms under the same rules as traditional exchanges, hinting at a potentially more crypto-friendly regulatory environment ahead. The SEC is also broadening its focus to artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the financial sector. On March 27, the agency will host a separate roundtable exploring AI’s risks, benefits, and governance.
The upcoming SEC roundtables indicate the agency's intent to adapt to changes in the crypto industry, potentially leading to a more flexible and pragmatic regulatory environment.
