U.S. SEC Chief Atkins Says Clarity Coming on Crypto Tied to Investment Contracts

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that the agency is working on a package of exemptions to provide clarity for crypto assets linked to investment contracts, aiming to facilitate capital formation and innovation while protecting investors. Atkins indicated that the staff is preparing recommendations for the commission's consideration to streamline the regulatory process beyond relying solely on enforcement actions under the Howey Test framework. He emphasized that assets defined as investment contracts can expire and do not remain so indefinitely just because they trade on a blockchain. Furthermore, Atkins argued that even tokens associated with investment contracts should potentially be tradable on platforms overseen by other regulators, like the CFTC or state bodies, rather than being exclusively confined to SEC-registered environments. He also clarified that network tokens, digital collectibles, and certain digital tools fall outside the SEC's securities jurisdiction, though tokenized securities remain within it. Atkins noted ongoing collaboration with Congress on market structure legislation to codify the SEC's crypto stance for long-term policy stability.

(Source：CoinDesk)