At a fintech summit in Washington D.C. on October 16, 2025, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul S. Atkins admitted that the United States is \u201cprobably 10 years behind\u201d in cryptocurrency development. He declared that bridging this gap is now the SEC\u2019s top mission\u2014calling it \u201cjob one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at DC Fintech Week, Atkins stressed that the SEC\u2019s role should extend beyond policing markets. He said the agency aims to create a regulatory environment that promotes innovation and draws back entrepreneurs who previously left for more crypto-friendly regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Atkins noted that the SEC is evolving into a \u201csecurities and innovation commission,\u201d a signal of change from past enforcement-heavy policies. He even proposed an \u201cinnovation exemption\u201d that would allow emerging crypto firms to test new ideas under regulatory supervision before facing full compliance requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Atkins also looked beyond cryptocurrencies and exchanges. He discussed the rise of \u201csuperapps\u201d integrated financial platforms that combine payments, investments, and more. According to Atkins, government regulators should coordinate in a similarly seamless way, comparing inter-agency cooperation to the ease of using an app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His comments reflect a broader goal: to make the United States not just a regulator of crypto but a global hub for its innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SEC under Atkins appears to be pivoting toward a more balanced approach. Earlier this year, he criticized the agency\u2019s past stance for \u201cstifling\u201d innovation due to regulatory uncertainty. His new direction suggests a stronger emphasis on clarity, collaboration, and fostering a digital asset ecosystem that can compete globally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The U.S. Looks to Catch Up on Crypto At a fintech summit in Washington D.C. on October 16, 2025, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul S. Atkins admitted that the United States is \u201cprobably 10 years behind\u201d in cryptocurrency development. He declared that bridging this gap is now the SEC\u2019s top mission\u2014calling it \u201cjob […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":14323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,43],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-15987","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-general-news"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n