After Years of Perceived Rigidity, the Crypto Industry Is Paying Close Attention to the Latest Move

After years of perceived rigidity under former Chairman Gary Gensler, the crypto industry is paying close attention to the latest move from the Commission. In a surprising

The SEC is hosting four roundtables to discuss crypto trading, custody, tokenization, and DeFi. The topics and dates are:

• Crypto trading, Thursday, July 13

The roundtable will discuss recent trends in crypto trading and the role of exchanges, brokers, and other market participants. It will also examine the implications of these trends for investors and the financial markets.

• Crypto custody, Wednesday, July 26

The roundtable will focus on the legal and regulatory framework for crypto custody services. It will bring together experts in the field to discuss the SEC's existing regulatory regime and how it can be updated to meet the needs of today's market.

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The SEC announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the Crypto Task Force will host four roundtables to collect input on digital assets. The roundtables will cover topics such as crypto trading, custody, tokenization, and DeFi.

The roundtables are part of the SEC's broader effort to regulate the cryptocurrency industry. In recent years, the SEC has brought a number of enforcement actions against crypto companies for allegedly violating securities laws. The agency has also been working on drafting new rules to govern the crypto industry.

The roundtables are an indication that the SEC may be interested in striking a more cooperative tone with the crypto industry. In the past, the industry has accused the SEC of being hostile and opaque in its dealings.

The roundtables will be open to the public and livestreamed on the SEC's website. They will be held at SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"The SEC is committed to providing clear and concise guidance to market participants in a rapidly changing technological landscape," said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. "These roundtables are an important part of that effort."

The roundtables are also an indication that the Biden administration is interested in altering course on crypto policy. The administration has been criticized by some for not doing enough to regulate the industry, while others have said that the administration's proposals are too burdensome.

Earlier this year, the administration scrapped a proposed rule that sought to tighten crypto custody standards for investment advisors. The decision was seen as a sign that the administration may be interested in striking a more balanced approach to crypto regulation.

The SEC is planning to hold four roundtables on cryptocurrency in order to gather input from industry stakeholders. The roundtables will be hosted by the SEC's Crypto Task Force and will focus on different aspects of the digital asset ecosystem.

The first roundtable, titled "Crypto Trading: Recent Trends and Implications," will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 9:00 AM ET at SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and livestreamed on the SEC's website. This session will discuss recent trends in crypto trading and the role of exchanges, brokers, and other market participants. It will also examine the implications of these trends for investors and the financial markets.

The second roundtable, titled "Crypto Custody: Legal and Regulatory Framework," will take place on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 9:00 AM ET at SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and livestreamed on the SEC's website. This gathering will bring together experts in the field to discuss the SEC's existing regulatory regime for crypto custody services and how it can be updated to meet the needs of today's market.

The third roundtable, "Crypto Tokenization: Developments and Intersections with Federal Securities Law," will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 9:00 AM ET at SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and livestreamed on the SEC's website. This session will focus on the burgeoning area of crypto tokenization and its implications for federal securities law. Topics to be covered include the types of tokens being used, the legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to token offerings, and the role of the SEC in overseeing this emerging technology.

The fourth and final roundtable, titled "Crypto DeFi: Evolving Market Structure and Regulatory Considerations," will occur on Wednesday, August 23, 23, at 9:00 AM ET at SEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and livestreamed on the SEC's website. This session will be dedicated to discussing the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector and its implications for the SEC's regulatory priorities.

Each roundtable will be open to the public and livestreamed on the SEC's website. The topics to be discussed at each roundtable are as follows:

Roundtable 1: Crypto Trading - Recent Trends and Implications

Thursday, July 13, 2023

9:00 AM ET

SEC Headquarters

Washington, D.C.

Livestream: SEC.gov

The first roundtable will focus on recent trends in crypto trading and the role of exchanges, brokers, and