Crypto Regulations Enter New Phase as SEC Unleashes 4 New Roundtables
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Crypto Task Force revealed plans Tuesday to hold four additional public roundtables in Washington D.C., expanding its series focused on developing digital asset regulation. The events will take place at the SEC headquarters on April 11, April 25, May 12, and June 6, each tackling a different facet of the crypto regulatory landscape.
SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, who leads the initiative, emphasized the importance of public input, stating:
The Crypto Task Force roundtables are an opportunity for us to hear a lively discussion among experts about what the regulatory issues are and what the Commission can do to solve them.
Each upcoming roundtable features a unique theme aimed at dissecting critical regulatory gaps. The April 11 session, Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading, will explore trade-specific oversight. On April 25, Know Your Custodian: Key Considerations for Crypto Custody will focus on the risks and responsibilities of crypto asset storage. The May 12 event, Tokenization – Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet, is expected to address blockchain-based asset integration with traditional finance. Wrapping up the series on June 6 is DeFi and the American Spirit, centering on the role of decentralized finance in U.S. markets. All sessions are open to the public, with in-person registration required and livestreams available on SEC.gov.
Last week, the task force hosted its inaugural roundtable, which centered on foundational legal questions and the barriers digital asset firms face in attempting to comply with existing regulations. Participants debated issues ranging from the definition of crypto securities to the feasibility of current registration requirements. The session included perspectives from former regulators, legal scholars, blockchain company executives, and investor advocates. It set the tone for the task force’s approach—prioritizing transparency and inclusion as it works to address complex regulatory challenges across the digital asset sector.
During the event, Acting SEC Chairman Mark T. Uyeda advocated for regulatory rulemaking over enforcement to clarify cryptocurrency guidelines and reduce legal ambiguity. Uyeda formed the crypto task force in January. Commissioner Peirce later outlined 10 priorities. The SEC has described the task force’s mission as follows:
The Crypto Task Force was established to help the Commission draw clear regulatory lines, provide realistic paths to registration, craft sensible disclosure frameworks, and deploy enforcement resources judiciously.