Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins announced that the agency’s proposed safe-harbor framework for crypto markets has been sent to the White House for regulatory review. Speaking at the Digital Assets and Emerging Technology Policy Summit, Atkins confirmed the “Regulation Crypto Assets” package is currently with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), the customary step before a proposal appears in the Federal Register.
Atkins said the SEC will be circulating the reg-crypto proposal soon and stressed the agency wants input from market participants to make the approach workable. While he gave few granular details at the event, he said the draft includes safe-harbor provisions and exemptive relief designed to clarify treatment for certain crypto projects and offerings.
The package, as outlined previously by the SEC, centers on three core elements:
– Startup exemption: permits new projects to raise up to a specified amount over a four-year period with lighter disclosure obligations during that period.
– Fundraising exemption: allows issuers to raise a capped amount within a 12-month window while still enabling reliance on other federal registration exemptions.
– Investment contract safe harbor: provides that some tokens would no longer be treated as securities once the project’s team has ceased the managerial efforts that were represented or promised as part of the investment contract.
If adopted as formal SEC rules, the package could encourage more crypto innovation in the United States by offering clearer regulatory pathways for issuers and developers. The agency’s rulemaking process typically requires an internal SEC vote to approve a proposal, submission to OIRA for review, and subsequent publication in the Federal Register to invite public comment and feedback.
Cointelegraph reached out to the SEC for comment. This report follows the outlet’s editorial standards; readers are encouraged to verify details independently.