- SEC Chair Paul Atkins said Project Crypto aims to modernize rules for digital assets and on-chain markets.
- The SEC and CFTC signed an agreement to improve regulatory coordination and reduce oversight gaps.
- Atkins also outlined IPO reforms designed to simplify public listings for growing companies.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission outlined new steps to support on-chain financial markets during a June 30, 2026, speech in New York. Speaking at The Economic Club of New York, SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins said the agency has advanced President Donald Trump’s crypto agenda through Project Crypto while coordinating more closely with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Atkins Details Project Crypto Framework
According to SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins, the agency has spent the past year updating its regulatory framework for digital assets. He said those efforts support President Donald Trump’s goal of making the United States the “crypto capital of the world.”
Atkins said Project Crypto focuses on modernizing SEC rules to accommodate markets moving on-chain. He added that the agency has also provided guidance allowing digital asset issuers to determine whether a token falls under securities laws before taking action.
Furthermore, Atkins said that certainty is necessary for markets to operate. He stated that clear regulatory standards are not intended as an industry benefit but as a requirement for consistent market oversight.
The remarks then shifted toward interagency cooperation. Atkins explained how that effort has developed over the past year.
SEC and CFTC Formalize Coordination
According to Atkins, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding. He described the agreement as a framework for aligning important definitions between both agencies.
He also said the arrangement will improve coordination between the SEC and the CFTC. Additionally, he stated that the agreement replaces what he described as a regulatory gap between the agencies with a framework supporting innovation.
During the speech, Atkins said regulatory clarity remains central to the SEC’s current approach. He connected that effort directly to Project Crypto and the agency’s broader rule modernization work.
IPO Reforms Highlighted
Atkins also addressed the public listing process during his remarks. He said the SEC has begun removing obstacles that discouraged companies from pursuing public offerings.
According to Atkins, the agency now uses materiality as its guiding principle when reviewing public market requirements. He said those changes aim to make becoming a public company a practical goal for growing businesses rather than a final option.
