SEC chair Paul Atkins says the regulator should review giving a range of exemptions to crypto companies to allow \u201cbespoke pathways\u201d to raise money.<\/p>\n
US Securities and Exchange Commission chair Paul Atkins says the agency should consider a \u201csafe harbor proposal\u201d to give crypto companies and some tokens a regulatory carveout.<\/p>\n
Atkins said<\/a> in remarks at a crypto lobby event in Washington, DC, on Tuesday that his safe harbor proposal was made up of a \u201cstartup exemption,\u201d a \u201cfundraising exemption,\u201d and an \u201cinvestment contract safe harbor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is past time for us to stop diagnosing the problem and start delivering the solution,\u201d he said. \u201cSuch a safe harbor would provide crypto innovators bespoke pathways to raise capital in the US, while providing appropriate investor protections.\u201d<\/p>\n The SEC, along with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, on Tuesday also issued an interpretation<\/a> that clarified what types of cryptocurrencies are securities and how \u201cnon-security crypto assets\u201d could fall under securities laws.<\/p>\n Our interpretation on crypto assets\u2014grounded in existing law and informed by extensive public input\u2014acknowledges what the former administration refused to recognize…<\/p>\n Most crypto assets are not themselves securities.pic.twitter.com\/fbHan0vmmb<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 Paul Atkins (@SECPaulSAtkins) March 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In his remarks, Atkins said the SEC should consider a \u201cstartup exemption\u201d to allow crypto companies to raise a defined amount of money or operate for a few years with enough \u201cregulatory runway\u201d to make it to maturity.\u00a0<\/p>\n He also floated a \u201cfundraising exemption\u201d to allow investment contracts<\/a> involving crypto to raise up to a particular amount in any 12-month period while being exempted from registering under securities laws.<\/p>\n Atkins said his idea for an \u201cinvestment contract safe harbor\u201d would give crypto asset issuers and buyers certainty about when assets are subject to securities laws.<\/p>\n The safe harbor could apply once an issuer has \u201cpermanently ceased all essential managerial efforts\u201d that it promised for the asset, Atkins said.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong><\/em>DeFi lobby drops airdrop lawsuit against SEC, citing crypto shift<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Atkins added that he expects the SEC to release proposed rules for the exemptions for public comment in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n He added, however, that \u201conly Congress can ensure that regulation in this area is future-proofed through comprehensive market structure legislation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n A bill to outline the SEC\u2019s crypto remit is currently stalled in the Senate<\/a> as negotiations over its provisions are ongoing.<\/p>\n Magazine: <\/strong><\/em>How crypto laws changed in 2025 \u2014 and how they\u2019ll change in 2026<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n <\/template><\/div>\n Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph\u2019s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/editorial-policy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>",
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Atkins outlines idea for crypto exemptions<\/h2>\n