SEC’s crypto approach a ‘disaster for the whole industry’

In a candid interview on Fox Business’s Mornings with Maria, SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda sharply criticized the agency’s handling of crypto, acknowledging that its current strategy has been “a disaster for the whole industry.”

Uyeda’s remarks come amid mounting legal challenges, including a fresh lawsuit filed by Crypto.com against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following the issuance of a Wells notice.

Crypto.com’s lawsuit alleges that the SEC has overstepped its jurisdiction by enforcing regulations on the cryptocurrency market without issuing clear regulatory guidance. The Wells notice — a formal communication from the SEC indicating that enforcement action is likely — accused Crypto.com of operating as an unregistered broker-dealer and securities clearing agency due to its handling of tokens that the SEC deems securities.

Uyeda’s critique of the SEC’s approach highlights a growing frustration within the agency and the wider crypto industry.

“We have been sending this ‘policy through enforcement,’” Uyeda stated, referring to the SEC’s practice of targeting companies with legal actions without offering explicit guidance on how they should operate within existing regulations. “We’ve done nothing to provide guidance on it,” he continued. “And as a result, this has been shaped by the courts. And different courts have ruled in different ways.”

Indeed, the SEC’s reliance on enforcement has led to legal battles, including a high-profile case against Ripple Labs. 

The courts have often delivered mixed rulings, adding to the uncertainty for crypto firms. While the SEC recently lost a major ruling to Ripple (XRP) regarding the classification of XRP tokens, the agency has already filed an appeal, signaling that these legal struggles are far from over.

Crypto firms are fighting back

Crypto.com’s lawsuit is just the latest in a series of legal confrontations between the crypto industry and the SEC. The lawsuit, sparked by the Wells notice, argues that the agency has been regulating beyond its mandate. Crypto.com’s leadership insists that legal action is necessary to protect the future of cryptocurrency innovation in the United States.

Mark Uyeda refrained from commenting directly on the Crypto.com litigation, but he emphasized the broader issue of the SEC’s failure to offer clarity. “We have not provided interpretive guidance as to what you can and cannot do,” Uyeda said, adding that the lack of clear rules has left companies guessing about how to comply with securities laws.

Uyeda’s comments also touched on the SEC’s broader regulatory philosophy, particularly in relation to environmental, social, and governance mandates. He criticized the agency’s focus on ESG issues, suggesting that such efforts often stray from financial relevance. “It is about micromanaging a lot of what corporations are doing on things that have absolutely no financial purpose,” he said, adding that financial regulators should not be vehicles for social change.