US SEC delays introduction of crypto innovation exemptions

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins has signaled a delay in the introduction of innovation exemptions for cryptocurrency firms, according to Decrypt. Speaking at a joint event with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Atkins said the SEC is still reviewing the details and that a final plan is unlikely to be confirmed this month or next. The proposed exemptions would pause enforcement actions for specific activities, such as those involving tokenized securities and DeFi. Atkins had previously mentioned a possible January release, but has adopted a more cautious tone after major Wall Street figures recently conveyed concerns about granting amnesty for tokenized securities. He added that the timeline could be affected by the progress of a virtual asset market structure bill currently in the Senate, stating that the agency needs clear direction from Congress.