The newly appointed Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Paul Atkins, has emphasized the need for more comprehensive and transparent regulations for the digital asset industry. Speaking at an SEC roundtable held on Friday (April 25), Atkins argued that the agency’s longstanding enforcement-focused approach has become a major obstacle to the growth of the crypto sector in the United States.

“Regulatory uncertainty has hindered innovation and created friction between regulators and digital asset businesses,” said Atkins, as quoted in a Reuters report titled “New US SEC Chair Says Crypto Sector Deserves Clear Regulations”, published the same day.

Atkins, who officially succeeded Gary Gensler, is known for his more open stance on the adoption of emerging technologies, including blockchain and cryptocurrencies. In his remarks, he expressed a commitment to reassessing existing SEC policies that are perceived as burdensome to the industry, with the aim of striking a balance between investor protection and space for innovation.

Furthermore, Atkins stressed that clear regulation is not only necessary at the national level but also in the global context. He stated that firm action would be taken against foreign companies that violate U.S. securities laws — including entities based in China — amid ongoing tensions in trade relations between the two countries.

As part of his new policy direction, the SEC under Atkins’ leadership has formed a dedicated crypto task force. This team has been assigned to draft a more consistent and adaptive regulatory framework that aligns with the evolving landscape of financial technology. The initiative was previously mentioned in a January 2025 report by CoinJournal.

This progressive move has been welcomed by many industry players who hope that regulatory clarity will provide legal certainty and foster the long-term growth of the digital asset ecosystem.

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