TLDR
- SEC’s Crypto Task Force plans four additional roundtable discussions through June 2025
- Upcoming topics include crypto trading (April 11), custody (April 25), tokenization (May 12), and DeFi (June 6)
- Led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, these discussions follow the first roundtable held on March 21
- The initiative is part of the SEC’s shift away from “regulation by enforcement” under new leadership
- All roundtables will be held in Washington, D.C. and livestreamed for public access
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is continuing its effort to engage with the cryptocurrency industry by announcing four additional roundtable discussions to take place this spring. The announcement marks a changing approach to crypto regulation under new SEC leadership.
The SEC’s Crypto Task Force, led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, will host these discussions following their first roundtable held on March 21 in Washington, D.C. That initial meeting focused on defining the security status of tokens and included input from a dozen industry lawyers.
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Peirce called these roundtables “an opportunity for us to hear a lively discussion among experts about what the regulatory issues are and what the Commission can do to solve them.” She has dubbed this initiative the “Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity.”
The next discussion, scheduled for April 11, is titled “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading.” This session will examine how existing regulations might be adapted for cryptocurrency markets.
Following that, the SEC will host a roundtable on crypto custody on April 25. This meeting will likely address the unique challenges of safely storing digital assets compared to traditional financial instruments.
On May 12, the focus shifts to tokenization with a discussion called “Tokenization – Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet.” This session will explore how traditional assets can be represented on blockchain networks.
The final announced roundtable will take place on June 6, covering decentralized finance (DeFi) in a session titled “DeFi and the American Spirit.” This meeting will examine the regulatory challenges posed by financial applications that operate without central authorities.
To be Held in Washington D.C
All roundtables will be held at the SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C. The events will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person, with recordings posted later on the SEC website.
The SEC has created a dedicated webpage for the Crypto Task Force where agendas and speaker information will be posted as they become available. Interested parties can also use this resource to communicate directly with the task force.
Those wishing to participate as panelists in the upcoming discussions can email crypto@sec.gov with the subject line “Potential Panelist.” The SEC notes that due to high demand, not all requests can be accommodated.
This series of roundtables reflects a major shift in the SEC’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation. Under former Chair Gary Gensler, the agency was known for what many in the industry called “regulation by enforcement.”
The new leadership, including Peirce and Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, appears to be moving toward more collaborative engagement with the crypto industry. The task force was launched on January 21 by Uyeda with the goal of establishing clearer regulatory frameworks.
Trump Administration
Under the Trump administration, the SEC has begun rolling back some of the stricter positions taken during the previous administration. According to reports, the agency has dismissed several enforcement actions that were initiated under Gensler’s leadership.
Uyeda has also indicated plans to reconsider rules proposed under the Biden administration that would have tightened crypto custody standards for investment advisers. He has also explored abandoning proposed changes that would expand regulation of alternative trading systems to include crypto firms.
The agency’s changing stance comes amid growing pressure from industry participants for clearer guidelines. The roundtables appear to be part of the SEC’s effort to better understand the unique aspects of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
Beyond crypto, the SEC is also hosting a roundtable on artificial intelligence in the financial industry on March 27. This event will discuss the risks, benefits, and governance of AI, with Uyeda, Peirce, and Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw scheduled to speak.
The Crypto Task Force was established to help the Commission “draw clear regulatory lines, provide realistic paths to registration, craft sensible disclosure frameworks, and deploy enforcement resources judiciously,” according to the SEC’s announcement.
