New SEC Spring 2025 Unified Agenda again calls for crypto clarity, less compliance and more investor protection. Chair Paul Atkins has set priorities that include establishing clear rules for crypto issuance, custody, and trading, reviewing the costly Consolidated Audit Trail.
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs released the agenda today, which Atkins has called "a new day"at the Commission. The most important proposals for the crypto sector will be about making it clear how digital assets can be bought and sold in a way that follows federal securities laws.
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The SEC aims to provide issuers, custodians, and trading platforms with greater peace of mind while continuing to combat fraud.
Deregulatory push
Besides crypto, the agenda calls for deregulation to reduce compliance burden for businesses.
These include making it easier to raise capital and giving more investors access to private markets. This is in line with the Commission's stated goal of promoting innovation and supporting market efficiency.
Atkins said:
"By simplifying pathways for raising capital and investor access to private businesses. It discusses amending existing rules to improve and modernize them as well as address disclosure burdens."
Related: What is Crypto? Cryptocurrency explained
At the same time, the SEC is thinking about changing the old disclosure rules that make it hard for public companies to do business without giving investors any real benefits.
The Commission will also consider whether to change the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) as more and more people are criticizing it for its high costs and the risks of putting sensitive trading data in one place.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit's recent decision has only made the call for a review stronger, as per the notes.
Atkins stressed that the Commission is getting rid of a number of projects from the previous administration and that future rule making will be "smart, effective, and appropriately tailored."
FAQs
Q: Who is Paul Atkins and what's his stance on crypto?
A: Paul Atkins is the current SEC Chair. Atkins, unlike Gary Gensler, has prioritized crypto issuance, custody, and trading regulations. His agenda supports innovation, capital formation, and investor protection without silencing the industry with compliance costs.
Q: How did Gary Gensler view crypto regulations?
A:Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler was criticized for his regressive and enforcement-heavy crypto approach. The SEC set precedents through lawsuits against Ripple, Coinbase, and Binance rather than providing clarity. Market participants complained that "regulation by enforcement" caused uncertainty, discouraged innovation, and drove crypto firms offshore.
Q: What changes are expected under Atkins compared to Gensler?
A: Atkins moved away from Gensler's hostility. His SEC agenda involves proactive rulemaking to define how digital assets can be offered and traded lawfully, modernizing disclosure rules, and terminating initiatives that do not support "smart, effective" regulation.
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Sep 4, 2025, where it first appeared in the Policy section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
