SEC Adds Crypto to 2025 Exam Priorities Despite Limited Registrations

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has once again added crypto assets in its 2025 examination priorities, after no significant participants registered with the Commission in 2024. This decision signals the SEC’s ongoing focus on the crypto industry, particularly in monitoring the proliferation of crypto-related investments and services.

🚨NEW: A year on, the @SECGov includes #crypto in its list of 2025 exam priorities despite no major crypto participants having registered with the Commission in 2024.

The only crypto assets I can think of that the SEC has interacted with in a regulatory role, not an enforcement… https://t.co/ky6Mf7jvsJ pic.twitter.com/aoVvD9QrqF

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) October 22, 2024

Although no major crypto companies have formally registered with the agency, the regulator has engaged with certain assets, particularly with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The agency’s involvement in these ETFs has been one of the few areas where the commission has taken a regulatory role, as opposed to the more common enforcement actions seen in the crypto space.

SEC’s Focus on Compliance and Innovation

The SEC’s 2025 examination priorities include ensuring that registrants involved in crypto assets comply with standards of conduct and transparency. The examination are likely to target companies offering services in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, as well as other crypto-asset-related products. This aligns with the agency’s mandate to maintain operational resilience and protect investors, especially in the face of the increasing volatility seen in the crypto markets.

While the examination guidelines are yet to be fully defined, the agency will likely focus on ensuring compliance with rules related to data integrity, custody practices, and operational resiliency. The Commission is also keen on assessing how crypto firms manage risks tied to blockchain and distributed ledger technology.

As the SEC continues to scrutinize the evolving landscape, market participants are waiting to see how these examinations may impact innovation and the future of the regulatory frameworks in the U.S. crypto market.

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