Overview
- At DC Fintech Week, Paul Atkins said digital assets and tokenization are now the Commission’s top priority and acknowledged the U.S. is “ten years behind.”
- He directed staff in June to draft an “innovation exemption” intended to fast‑track on‑chain product development and supervised experimentation.
- Atkins outlined plans for interagency streamlining, including a unified compliance “super app” or joint registration to cut duplicative requirements.
- The agency has shifted away from a lawsuit‑driven posture and rolled back deterrent internal policies, including Staff Accounting Bulletin 121.
- Operational constraints from the shutdown have delayed implementation, with the SEC running on minimal staff and timing for rollout still uncertain.