Paul Atkins, the new chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has officially entered the most critical 12-month regulatory period in the cryptocurrency and tokenized securities space.
Since the US government shutdown ended last week, Atkins' work agenda has evolved into its most intense and decisive yet, according to the latest report from TD Cowen's Washington research team.
SEC's Focus on Crypto Regulation
Analyst Jaret Seiberg stated that Atkins' “deregulatory agenda” covers a wide range of topics, but will focus specifically on new regulatory rules for the crypto sector. The SEC is expected to begin publishing its first draft regulations within the next few months. Analysts believe the process should proceed quickly so that these drafts are completed by 2027 and can be defended and enforced in court by the end of 2028.
At the center of Atkins' agenda is his recently announced “token taxonomy” plan, which aims to provide a new framework for classifying digital assets as securities. According to Seiberg, the SEC could also take significant action regarding tokenized stocks, granting necessary exemptions to online brokers and crypto platforms to facilitate the issuance and trading of such assets.
Broader Deregulatory Efforts
Atkins' agenda isn't limited to crypto. The SEC is also working on a broader deregulatory framework that would make it easier for individual investors to access alternative investments, according to the report.
The analysis highlights that the SEC is actively advancing its “Project Crypto” initiative under the new administration, which aims to modernize regulatory rules and support new legislative processes in coordination with Congress.