SEC Chair Paul Atkins says crypto firms will receive notice of technical violations before enforcement, signaling a shift from past tactics.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is changing its approach toward crypto regulation.
Chairman Paul Atkins announced that the agency will now notify businesses of technical violations before taking any enforcement action. This stands as a break from the enforcement-first strategy of his predecessors, which had been criticised for being unpredictable and heavy-handed.
Moving away from enforcement-first tactics
Atkins said in an interview with the Financial Times that the SEC should not “bash down the door” of companies over technical missteps. Instead, businesses will receive warnings, which will provide them time to address issues before formal enforcement starts.
BREAKING: SEC Chairman Paul Atkins
“Today, we must admit that crypto’s time has come. For too long the SEC has weaponized its investigatory, subpoena, and enforcement authorities to subvert the crypto markets.”pic.twitter.com/wzPBfdTZhx
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) September 10, 2025
The SEC chair’s comments stand in contrast to the leadership of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
Under Gensler, the agency pursued a series of high-profile lawsuits against major firms, including Ripple Labs, Terraform Labs, Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken.
🚨BREAKING: OPENSEA NFT MARKETPLACE RECIEVES WELLS NOTICE FROM SEC pic.twitter.com/1J4ZjLoccK
— blockchaindaily.news (@blckchaindaily) August 28, 2024
Those cases generated billions in legal costs and created a perception that the SEC relied on “regulation by enforcement.”
New regulatory agenda for crypto
Atkins said that most tokens should not be classified as securities. This is vastly different from Gensler’s earlier stance. He supports developing rules that allow investors to trade tokenised versions of stocks and bonds.
These digital assets would carry the same legal rights as traditional securities but allow for 24/7 trading through blockchain technology.
This vision is in line with President Donald Trump’s promise to promote digital assets. Trump has described himself as a “crypto president” and backed efforts to expand blockchain use in U.S. financial markets.
Since Atkins took office in April, the SEC has established a Crypto Task Force to consult with the industry.
The agency has also dropped several investigations initiated under Gensler., Atkins hopes that by engaging with market participants, the SEC can create a regulatory environment that encourages innovation, while still protecting investors.
Restoring trust through predictability
For years, crypto companies raised worries that the SEC’s approach created uncertainty. Lawsuits tended to come as surprises and left businesses unsure about compliance requirements.
This environment created accusations that the agency was killing innovation and driving investment overseas.
Atkins acknowledged these worries and stressed that new and consistent rules will help address them. He wants companies to feel confident they are being judged against transparent standards.
By moving toward clearer rules and less confrontational enforcement, the SEC could make the U.S. a more attractive hub for crypto development.
Other jurisdictions, including the European Union and Singapore, have already advanced with more comprehensive frameworks. This said, Atkins’ direction could help the U.S. catch up with the rest of the world.
A turning point for U.S. crypto regulation
Atkins is showing an important change in how the SEC plans to regulate digital assets. Instead of relying on lawsuits and surprise actions, the agency is preparing to provide notice and guidance.
Support for tokenised securities also points to a future where blockchain plays a greater role in mainstream finance.
For crypto firms, this could mean fewer legal battles and more room to innovate. For regulators, it could mean a more stable system that is built on transparency.