Catenaa, Friday, October 24, 2025- U.S. Securities and Exchange (SEC) Commission Chair Paul Atkins has outlined a pro-innovation stance on cryptocurrency and tokenization, signaling a major shift from the enforcement-heavy approach of his predecessor, Gary Gensler.
Speaking Wednesday at DC Fintech Week, Atkins said crypto and tokenization are “job one” for the SEC, emphasizing that the agency’s goal is to attract innovation back to the United States.
He said the goal was to construct a logical framework that would allow innovation to flourish in the future, noting jokingly that he would rather name the agency the Securities and Innovation Commission.
Since assuming the chairmanship in April, Atkins has moved to create a friendlier environment for digital assets, pushing for an “innovation exemption” that would allow blockchain firms to rapidly launch compliant on-chain products. He said he aims to introduce the exemption by year’s end.
Atkins also highlighted the potential of distributed ledger technology, describing it as the most exciting development in the crypto space. He proposed that regulatory agencies streamline their oversight efforts, suggesting a “super app” model to simplify compliance for crypto firms.
His remarks mark a sharp departure from Gensler’s stance, which centered on lawsuits and the assertion that most tokens qualified as securities.
Atkins’ comments come as the SEC operates with limited capacity during the ongoing government shutdown, restricting staff activity to essential functions only.
