SEC sets crypto rule changes on 2026 regulatory agenda

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SEC crypto rule changes 2026

Highlights

SEC's 2026 agenda proposes rule changes for crypto broker-dealers, digital assets trading systems, and exemptions to align with Trump administration crypto policy goals.
Congress is considering a bill that would shift much of crypto market oversight from the SEC to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as SEC signals willingness to defer to legislation.
Democratic lawmakers criticize the SEC under Atkins and Trump for dropping enforcement actions against firms like Binance and Coinbase, alleging an enforcement vacuum that could leave investors unprotected.

2026 rulemaking plan targets crypto markets

As reported by Cointelegraph, SEC Chair Paul Atkins says in a Tuesday notice that the agency’s 2026 agenda aligns with the Trump administration’s crypto policy goals and includes proposed changes for crypto broker-dealers, digital assets on alternative trading systems and national securities exchanges, and possible exemptions and safe harbors for digital assets.

The SEC says one proposed rule on the offer and sale of crypto assets may provide greater certainty to the market, support capital formation and accommodate innovation in crypto markets while still ensuring investors are protected and receive enough information to make informed decisions.

The proposals arrive as Congress debates provisions in a crypto market structure bill that is expected to shift much of the industry’s oversight and enforcement from the SEC to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In March, Atkins says the SEC would move ahead with an agency "bridge" to clarify crypto regulation, while signaling he would defer to legislation if Congress passes it.

Political scrutiny and enforcement concerns grow

The SEC’s approach to crypto under U.S. President Donald Trump and Atkins is drawing criticism from opponents who accuse the administration of a pay-to-play model. Democratic lawmakers say in a January letter that Trump and associates financially benefit from companies that had faced enforcement actions or possible regulatory entanglements, including Binance, Coinbase, Ripple Labs and Kraken, before those matters were later dropped.

Three Democratic House members say in a separate January letter to Atkins that the SEC’s decision to let alleged securities law violators avoid consequences, combined with Atkins’ statement that most crypto tokens are not securities, creates an enforcement vacuum that leaves U.S. investors unprotected. They also point to federal district court holdings that at least some tokens are securities.

Trump says on Monday that he got involved in crypto partly for political reasons after previously calling Bitcoin a scam following his first term. After initially saying he was not a fan of cryptocurrencies, he begins engaging with industry leaders and publicly promoting the technology in the run-up to the 2024 election.

Our earlier coverage of Coinbase’s regulatory developments highlighted the company’s UK FCA authorization to offer equities and derivatives trading, signaling a push to diversify beyond core crypto services. That report also noted ongoing volatility in COIN shares and outlined a near-term consolidation range, while pointing to indicators and sentiment measures that suggested continued selling pressure despite the expansion catalyst.

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