SEC Prepares to Write Own Crypto Rules Amid CLARITY Act Delays

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is no longer waiting for Congress to act on crypto regulations. SEC Chair Paul Atkins stated that if the CLARITY Act fails, the agency is 'ready, willing, and able' to create its own rules under existing powers.

The statement comes as the bill faces delays in the Senate and is now just weeks away from the August summer break. The initiative, informally called 'Regulation Crypto,' would mark a major shift from the SEC's earlier enforcement-driven approach.

According to Atkins, if Congress remains deadlocked, the SEC can move ahead with rulemaking under its existing powers. This includes key areas of the crypto market such as registration exemptions for token launches, safe harbor rules for projects becoming decentralized, and crypto custody standards for broker-dealers.