Key Highlights
- Paul Atkins formally mentioned that the SEC will deliver a clear regulatory framework for crypto assets in 2026, and put it into one of only three priorities for 2026
- The SEC and CFTC are jointly working on Project Crypto to create a shared token taxonomy and clear rules
- Paul Atkins said that the CLARITY Act is “long overdue” and confirmed that the SEC will take exemptions for on-chain transactions
On February 11, 2026, SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins testified before the House Financial Services Committee.
In the latest post on X, He revealed three main priorities for the agency in 2026. The third one has attracted the attention of the crypto industry. After years of enforcement actions, the SEC is now finally becoming serious about providing a clear regulatory framework for digital assets.
Paul Atkins Shares 3 Priorities for Crypto
Atkins mentioned that public companies currently spend $2.7 billion every year just to file their annual reports. That is $2.7 billion not going into jobs, research, or expansion. To address these issues, His first priority is to focus on enforcement on genuine fraud without any type of paperwork violations.
He also mentioned the new Cross-Border Task Force, which since September has suspended trading in 14 Asia-based issuers on evidence of potential manipulation.
The second priority for the agency will be disclosure reform. Atkins stated that annual filings have grown longer than War and Peace. His agency is planning to improve the rules. They are also planning to anchor them in documents by making reports shorter, cheaper, and useful for investors.
But it is the third priority that has drawn the sharpest attention from markets. “A clear framework for crypto assets is overdue. As Congress completes its vital work, our coordination with the @CFTC through Project Crypto will help deliver clarity on regulatory obligations for investors & innovators. ” Atkins stated in the tweet.
SEC’s Project Crypto
Project Crypto was also launched as an internal SEC in 2025. On January 29, it made a major development.
Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig jointly announced that the two agencies would now operate Project Crypto as an inter-agency collaboration. The purpose of this project is to end the jurisdictional fight that has left crypto innovations sent into dilemma over whether their products fall under securities or commodities rules.
In his testimony, Atkins stated that comprehensive legislation is very important. He once again shared a strong support for the CLARITY Act. He called it a “federal framework for crypto markets” that is “long overdue.”
However, he also made clear that the SEC will not wait until the formation of new rules for the crypto sector. Project Crypto is developed to provide a bridge, which includes interim guidance and a shared taxonomy.
In his statement, CFTC Chairman Selig also stated that this was “the beginning of a new chapter for the CFTC.” He affirmed that the crypto market has faced far too long with uncertainty about which regulator oversees it. The joint project named Project Crypto includes shared data protocols, coordinated surveillance, weekly leadership calls, and harmonized rulemaking.
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