SEC chair declares anti-crypto era over

TLDR

SEC Chair Paul Atkins has publicly said the SECs anti?innovation stance toward crypto is over and that the agency will move toward clearer rules instead of constant crackdowns.

1. Atkins signaled a shift away from Gary Genslers enforcement?first approach, saying the SEC is no longer at odds with technology and innovation and that this era is over.
2. Early signs of change include fewer aggressive cases and coordination with a pro?crypto White House and CFTC, but U.S. law and many existing lawsuits still stand.
3. The real test will be upcoming SEC rulemakings and the fate of the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act in Congress, which will determine how durable this pivot is.

Deep Dive

1. What Atkins Actually Said

Since taking over in April 2025, Paul Atkins has said the SEC is moving away from the enforcement?heavy posture associated with former Chair Gary Gensler and is now working on clearer crypto rules alongside the Trump administration and Congress. In a recent post, he wrote that the SEC was at odds with new technology and innovation but that that era is over, committing to deliver much needed clarity to digital asset markets in coordination with other agencies and lawmakers.[](https://news.bitcoin.com/trump-vows-crypto-market-structure-law-that-cannot-be-undone)

Coverage highlights that the SEC under Atkins is framing this as a new phase focused on rulemaking, updated disclosures, and defining what counts as a security versus a commodity for tokens.[](https://www.tradingview.com/news/coinpedia:ef50825ac094b:0-sec-chair-paul-atkins-signals-end-to-crypto-crackdown-era/)

2. How Much Has Really Changed

Atkinss messaging aligns with President Trumps push to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world and to codify a future?proof digital asset market structure that cannot be undone by crypto haters.[](https://news.bitcoin.com/trump-vows-crypto-market-structure-law-that-cannot-be-undone)

There are concrete hints of a softer stance. The CFTC, under similarly pro?crypto leadership, has moved to vacate a high?profile enforcement settlement against Gemini, saying the original case should not have been filed, which analysts see as part of a broader rethink of overreaching actions.? Reports also note that SEC crypto enforcement has already slowed compared with the peak Gensler period.

However, securities law did not change overnight. Many SEC cases against exchanges and token issuers remain active, and key questions like when a token stops being a security are still unresolved.

3. What To Watch Next

The main structural driver is legislation. The Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act, which would formally split responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC and define treatment of tokens and perpetuals, has advanced in committee but faces political delays and could slip several years according to analysts at TD Cowen.?

On the SEC side, watch for specific rule proposals, such as an innovation exemption for compliant on?chain trading of tokenized securities, clearer custody and disclosure standards, and updated guidance on when tokens count as securities.[](https://news.bitcoin.com/trump-vows-crypto-market-structure-law-that-cannot-be-undone)

Conclusion

Atkinss declaration that the anti?crypto or anti?innovation era is over marks a clear rhetorical break from the Gensler years and fits a broader U.S. policy pivot toward keeping crypto activity onshore. For now it is more about tone and direction than completed reform, so the practical impact will depend on how fast Congress moves on market?structure bills and how the SEC rewrites its rules in the coming months.