SEC Publishes Spring 2025 Regulatory Agenda Targeting Crypto Reform and Wall Street Deregulation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4 published its Spring 2025 Regulatory Agenda, unveiling sweeping proposals to reform crypto rules and reduce what Wall Street considers overly burdensome regulations. The formal agenda release marks a dramatic shift from the previous administration's approach to digital assets.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins used the September 4 agenda publication to formally outline several initiatives to overhaul crypto policies that he had previewed in July. The proposals include new rules governing the offer and sale of digital assets, potentially featuring certain exemptions and safe harbors, and clarifying how broker-dealer regulations apply to crypto firms. The SEC said it would consider amending rules to allow crypto trading on national securities exchanges and alternative trading systems. 

In his statement accompanying the Spring 2025 agenda release, Atkins said the regulatory roadmap reflects "a new day at the Securities and Exchange Commission" with renewed focus on supporting innovation, capital formation, market efficiency and investor protection. The chair emphasized that a key priority of his leadership is establishing "clear rules of the road for the issuance, custody, and trading of crypto assets while continuing to discourage bad actors from violating the law."

The September 4 agenda represents a major potential victory for the digital asset industry, which has long sought tailored regulations to integrate crypto more deeply with traditional finance. The policy shift aligns with President Donald Trump's campaign promises to serve as a "crypto president" and promote digital asset adoption.

This approach contrasts sharply with the Biden administration's regulatory stance, where officials cracked down on the crypto industry citing fraud and money laundering concerns. The previous SEC sued major exchanges including Coinbase and Binance, along with dozens of other firms, alleging violations of U.S. securities laws. Trump's SEC has since dropped those enforcement cases.