- SEC Chair Paul Atkins replaced Gary Gensler in April 2025 and launched Project Crypto to develop regulatory frameworks instead of enforcement-focused oversight.
- The agency dropped major enforcement cases against Coinbase and Binance in February 2025, while the Crypto Task Force led by Commissioner Hester Peirce coordinates with CFTC.
- Legal experts warn existing securities regulations remain in force and the SEC retains enforcement authority regardless of examination priorities.
Nov. 18 (Crypto-News.Net) – The SEC omitted cryptocurrency from its 2026 examination priorities released on Nov. 17. The move marks the first time in several years the agency excluded dedicated crypto oversight from its annual examination focus areas.
The 2026 priorities document emphasizes cybersecurity threats and artificial intelligence risks. The agency will also focus on fiduciary duty standards, according to the SEC press release. SEC Chair Paul Atkins stated that “examinations are an important component to accomplishing the agency’s mission, but they should not be a ‘gotcha’ exercise.”
The 2025 examination priorities included a dedicated section titled “Crypto Assets” on page 14, according to the 2025 priorities document. That section stated the Division would “continue to monitor and, when appropriate, conduct examinations of registrants offering crypto asset-related services.”
Regulatory Shift Under New Leadership
Paul Atkins became SEC Chair on April 21, 2025. He replaced Gary Gensler, who stepped down on Jan. 20 when President Donald Trump took office. Atkins previously disclosed crypto holdings valued between $1 million and $6 million in his ethics filing.
The agency launched Project Crypto on July 31, 2025. The initiative aims to develop regulatory frameworks for digital assets. Atkins proposed a token classification framework on Nov. 12 that would allow tokens to exit securities designation when networks achieve sufficient decentralization. Apart from this, the SEC created a Crypto Task Force in January 2025 led by Commissioner Hester Peirce to coordinate with the CFTC on regulatory development.
The agency dismissed its lawsuit against Coinbase on Feb. 27, 2025, according to Morrison Foerster legal analysis. The SEC also stayed its case against Binance for 60 days on Feb. 10. The Trump administration’s crypto business ventures generated $802 million in early 2025 through token sales.
Market Implications
Legal experts caution that existing regulations remain in force. The SEC “maintains its authority to regulate and examine cryptocurrency firms regardless of examination priorities,” according to legal analysis from OneSafe. The agency can pursue enforcement actions against firms violating securities laws.
Institutional crypto adoption continued through 2025. VanEck launched a Solana staking ETF on Nov. 17 with zero fees through February 2026. Canary Capital filed for Litecoin and HBAR ETFs in October after the SEC withdrew delay notices. Bitwise’s Solana ETF began options trading on Nov. 11, adding derivatives to the spot product.
The CFTC launched a crypto coordination initiative in August 2025. Senate lawmakers introduced draft legislation in November that would shift certain crypto oversight responsibilities to the CFTC. The SEC stated its priorities document is “not an exhaustive list” of examination areas for the coming year.
