The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released its Spring 2025 regulatory agenda, highlighting possible updates to rules governing the issuance, custody, and trading of crypto assets.
The agenda is intended to clarify the regulatory framework for digital assets and provide greater certainty for market participants.
SEC chairman Paul Atkins highlighted that defining clear rules for crypto assets is a priority during his tenure.
“A key priority of my chairmanship is clear rules of the road for the issuance, custody, and trading of crypto assets while continuing to discourage bad actors from violating the law,” Atkins said.
The agenda reflects a shift from a primarily enforcement-focused approach to a more structured, rules-based framework.
Proposed measures include modernizing existing regulations, reducing disclosure burdens, simplifying capital-raising processes, and improving investor access to private enterprises.
The SEC also plans to review custody frameworks and broker-dealer obligations, and engage with industry participants through roundtables on topics such as staking, decentralized finance (DeFi), and tokenization.
In addition, prior guidance discouraging crypto custody has been rescinded, signaling greater clarity for institutional participation.
Beyond crypto, the agenda outlines broader deregulatory initiatives, including proposals to modernize existing rules and reduce compliance costs.
The SEC also intends to seek public input on potential changes to the Consolidated Audit Trail following criticism of its costs and data risks.
“At a new day at the SEC, regulation should be smart, effective, and appropriately tailored,” Atkins said, noting the withdrawal of several items from the previous administration that did not align with this approach.