SEC Chair's First Podcast Signals Crypto-Friendly Shift: From "Enforcement-Driven" to "Collaborative Innovation"

Odaily News According to the inaugural official podcast hosted by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins, featuring Commissioners Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce, the SEC systematically outlined its regulatory direction for 2026, sending a clear signal of a shift from an "enforcement-driven" approach to one focused on "collaboration and innovation." Atkins stated that the U.S. should become the preferred destination for innovative activities like crypto, calling the current moment a "significant inflection point for U.S. markets." Peirce emphasized the need to build a financial regulatory system open to innovation to enhance market resilience.

The SEC has introduced several policy adjustments in recent years, including determining that "most crypto assets" are not securities, providing exemptions for DeFi interfaces, and dropping or terminating some enforcement cases against companies like Ripple, Coinbase, and Binance. Data shows that the number of SEC enforcement actions in fiscal year 2025 decreased by 22% year-on-year, with penalties and disgorgement dropping from $8.2 billion to $2.7 billion. The agency noted that past enforcement actions against the crypto industry had "led to misleading expectations." Market observers believe this shift may help attract institutional capital back and promote the development of products like derivatives and ETFs. However, the sustainability of these policies still depends on legislative progress in the U.S. Congress, and the overall market remains cautiously watchful. (Decrypt)