SEC Staff Reviews Crypto-Related Guidance
In a recent announcement via social media platform X, acting chairman Mark Uyeda revealed that the staff at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is actively reviewing previous guidance related to cryptocurrencies. This initiative aims to assess whether the existing framework aligns with the agency’s evolving priorities in the rapidly changing digital assets landscape.
Among the key documents under scrutiny is the SEC staff’s statement regarding funds registered under the Investment Company Act that invest in the bitcoin futures market. Additionally, the review will encompass other critical areas, including the classification of digital assets as “investment contracts” and the associated custody frameworks. These assessments are expected to provide much-needed clarification and potentially reshape the regulatory environment surrounding the digital assets sector.
This review initiative stems from Executive Order 14192, titled Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, and follows a recommendation from Elon Musk’s D.O.G.E. It is essential to highlight that the statement originates from SEC staff rather than Commissioner Hester Peirce, which may render it less binding in nature. Nonetheless, it signifies the SEC’s growing openness to alleviating some of the regulatory pressures that have been placed on the digital assets industry, particularly since the transition to leadership appointed by President Donald Trump.
The move forms part of interim Chairman Mark Uyeda’s broader strategy to revamp the SEC’s stance on cryptocurrencies. This includes a notable shift towards dismissing many of the high-profile enforcement actions that the agency had previously initiated against various digital asset businesses. As the landscape of cryptocurrency continues to evolve, the SEC is taking critical steps to adapt its regulatory framework to better suit this dynamic sector.
