SEC and CFTC Sign Memo to Harmonize Crypto Rules
The SEC and CFTC signed a joint memorandum Wednesday establishing a shared regulatory framework for crypto assets. The agencies plan to adopt a "minimum effective dose" approach to foster innovation while maintaining market integrity.
Key Takeaway
US regulators finally coordinate on crypto rules, potentially reversing years of enforcement-first regulation.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC leadership signed a joint memorandum Wednesday aimed at ending regulatory turf wars that have pushed crypto companies offshore for years.
Atkins said duplicative agency registrations and different regulatory sets between the SEC and CFTC have stifled innovation for decades. The memo represents the latest step toward repairing the relationship between the agencies, he added.
The regulators acknowledged that new trading models, digital infrastructure, and onchain automated systems increasingly blur traditional jurisdictional lines. They called it a time to regulate in harmony and provide a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets.
Both agencies committed to technology-neutral regulations and sharing information on common regulatory issues. The framework will cover trading platforms, clearinghouses, data repositories, pooled investment vehicles, dealers, intermediaries, and products spanning securities and derivatives.
The joint strategy adopts a "minimum effective dose" regulatory approach to foster innovation while maintaining market integrity and staying competitive globally. The agencies established a crypto-specific task force and an advisory committee on crypto, AI, and emerging tech innovations.
Atkins took over as SEC Chair on April 21, 2025, and has since dropped crypto lawsuits against Coinbase, Kraken, and Ripple while ending the Uniswap investigation.
This article was written based on reporting from Cointelegraph.
