SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said that the regulator will introduce an “innovation exemption” to launch crypto products without outdated rules by the end of 2025.
SEC to introduce an exception for innovation in crypto by the end of the year
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to create a so-called “innovation exemption” — an exception that will allow crypto companies to temporarily launch products without complying with outdated regulatory barriers.
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said this in an interview with Fox Business, noting that the new initiative should appear by the end of 2025.
Easier launch of crypto products
According to Atkins, the exception will act as a regulatory benefit, allowing companies to bring innovative products to market faster under simplified supervision, while the SEC develops a separate rule base for digital assets.
“We are looking for a way to implement the innovation exemption by the end of the year,” he said.
Atkins also noted the recent approval in the United States of the first multi-asset crypto ETP, which gives investors access to Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Cardano at once.
SEC’s new course
The regulator’s chairman emphasized that the launch of Grayscale’s fund under the new “generic listing standards” demonstrates how the SEC is trying to create a stable platform for innovation, rather than act in a piecemeal manner.
Atkins is known for his commitment to the crypto industry.
- In July, he announced the launch of Project Crypto, an initiative to modernize regulations and move financial markets “on-chain.”
- In August, speaking at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, he stated that “very few tokens are securities” — a clear departure from the approach of his predecessor, Gary Gensler, who insisted otherwise.
Atkins’ SEC is openly positioning itself as a regulator willing to experiment, while the market expects the innovation exemption to be a catalyst for a wave of new crypto products in the US.
Related: SEC streamlines crypto ETF approvals with new standards
