The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) took another step toward creating a clearer regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency market. The agency included in its 2026 Regulatory Agenda a series of changes that are expected to be proposed by the end of the year, focusing on the issuance, custody, and trading of digital assets.
Among the main initiatives is a review of the rules applicable to cryptocurrency brokers and exchanges. The SEC plans to update minimum net capital requirements for brokers, in addition to modifying rules aimed at protecting clients' assets in cases of company insolvency. Changes to the registration rules for these institutions are also expected, seeking to adapt the legislation to the growth of the cryptoassets sector.
According to the agency, the changes are intended to provide greater legal certainty to the market and establish more transparent guidelines for companies and investors. The proposal also aims to strengthen customer protection without preventing the technological innovation that drives the digital assets industry.
The regulatory agenda also includes other measures aimed at the financial market, such as reducing compliance requirements for emerging companies and the possibility for some companies to submit financial reports on a semiannual basis rather than the current frequency.
The new approach reflects the management of SEC Chair Paul Atkins, who since taking command of the agency has advocated for a more objective regulation of the cryptocurrency sector. The strategy represents a significant shift from the period led by Gary Gensler, when the agency adopted a stricter stance, bringing multiple enforcement actions against companies in the market and arguing that many cryptoassets should be classified as securities.
In March, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) released a joint guidance stating that most cryptocurrencies do not qualify as a security, while also clarifying in which circumstances a digital asset no longer has that classification.
For the SEC, the new regulatory package could increase investor confidence, make it easier for companies in the sector to raise capital, and create a more predictable environment for the development of the cryptocurrency market, while maintaining enforcement mechanisms to curb fraud and protect market participants.