Paul Atkins, Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), delivered a strong message of support to the crypto industry by stating that most cryptocurrencies should not be classified as securities.
Speaking at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Atkins said only a small fraction of tokens could be considered securities. His remarks mark a sharp contrast to the stricter stance of previous SEC leadership, signaling a friendlier regulatory environment. Atkins emphasized the need for a framework that both supports innovation and shields markets from long-term uncertainty.
His comments follow the launch of “Project Crypto”, a new SEC initiative aimed at moving U.S. capital markets onto blockchain while modernizing securities laws. Analysts have described this as one of the boldest and most transformative visions ever outlined by an SEC chair.
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan noted that Project Crypto offers a roadmap not only for digital assets but also for stocks, bonds, and even the U.S. dollar to eventually operate on-chain. Atkins’ commitment to making crypto markets “future-proof” could mark the beginning of a new era that reshapes Wall Street’s rulebook.
