The Crypto Task Force is ramping up its efforts to refine digital asset regulations, announcing plans for four additional roundtable discussions following its inaugural event on March 21.
SEC’s Crypto Task Force Unveils Expanded Roundtable Series
Set to take place between April and June, these upcoming discussions will delve into critical aspects of cryptocurrency oversight, aiming to shape a more structured regulatory framework.
“The Crypto Task Force roundtables provide an invaluable opportunity for experts to engage in a robust dialogue about the regulatory challenges and potential solutions the Commission can implement,” SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce stated in a press release.
“Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading,” the first episode of the series, will air on April 11 and will concentrate on modifying regulatory strategies for trading digital assets. The conversation will then turn to cryptocurrency safeguarding on April 25 with “Know Your Custodian: Key Considerations for Crypto Custody.”
The task force will examine the nexus between traditional and decentralised banking on May 12 with its event, “Tokenisation – Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet.” On June 6, the last session, “DeFi and the American Spirit,” will look at how decentralised finance is changing in the larger economy.
Every roundtable will take place at SEC headquarters, which the public can watch live or attend in person. Session recordings will also be accessible for viewing at a later time. In contrast to earlier SEC engagements, the task force is notably promoting public participation by inviting stakeholders to apply to serve on the panel.
These initiatives align with the regulator’s broader strategy to establish clearer and more comprehensive guidelines for digital assets. The inaugural roundtable, for instance, scrutinized the legal complexities surrounding the classification of crypto assets under federal securities laws.
During the event, SEC Acting Chair Mark Uyeda highlighted the ongoing legal ambiguities in the crypto space, despite Bitcoin’s introduction in 2008. He pointed out that nearly two decades later, differing interpretations persist regarding the classification of digital assets.
“The challenges in applying Howey’s investment contract test are not unique to crypto,” Uyeda noted, referencing a longstanding legal framework used to determine whether an asset qualifies as a security. He further emphasized that conflicting court rulings have added to the complexity of crypto regulations.
Uyeda suggested that the SEC could have taken a different approach, advocating for formalized notice-and-comment rulemaking rather than relying on enforcement actions to clarify regulatory expectations for crypto assets.
“This approach of using notice-and-comment rulemaking or explaining the Commission’s thought process through releases – rather than through enforcement actions – should have been considered for classifying crypto assets under the federal securities laws,” he remarked.
With the task force’s expanded roundtable series, the SEC appears to be taking a more proactive and transparent approach to addressing regulatory uncertainties, offering a platform for industry stakeholders to contribute to the evolving landscape of digital asset governance.
