SEC Vows to Deliver Crypto Clarity 'With or Without' CLARITY Act
US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins has stated that the agency will continue to provide regulatory clarity for cryptocurrencies, regardless of whether new legislation is passed. Speaking at the Solana Policy Institute Summit in Washington on September 14, Atkins emphasized that 'with or without' the CLARITY Act, the administration will deliver for American investors and technological innovators.
Atkins' comments come after Congress failed to advance the CLARITY Act, a market-structure bill aimed at clarifying the regulatory framework for digital assets. The measure did not reach the 60-vote threshold required for passage on September 15, leaving regulators to continue developing crypto rules under existing statutes.
The SEC has already begun building its own set of regulations for cryptocurrencies. In March, the agency issued a major interpretation clarifying how federal securities laws apply to different categories of digital assets, including collectibles, utility-style assets, and stablecoins. The framework addressed when a crypto asset may be tied to an investment contract and when that relationship can end.
Atkins has also stated that the SEC is working on rules for tokenized securities, crypto custody, and on-chain trading systems as part of its broader Project Crypto initiative. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is pursuing a parallel strategy, with Chair Michael Selig directing staff to prepare potential regulatory pathways for digital asset markets if Congress does not enact comprehensive legislation.