At this point, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is making important decisions about regulating digital assets in the future. Commissioner Hester Peirce is leading the way for long-term consistency. Peirce, in charge of the SEC’s crypto task force, spoke at the DC Blockchain Summit on March 26 and stressed the need for long-lasting rules that don’t change when the government changes. Since the crypto industry is changing so quickly, she thinks that regulations and laws passed by Congress should be more important than short-term government guidance that can change when leadership changes.
SEC Rulemaking for Crypto Clarity
Peirce told the SEC they should make formal rules instead of just following advice, which doesn’t last. According to her, legal frameworks like the Howey test—used to see if an asset is a security—are essential, but regulatory uncertainty shouldn’t stop the business. Instead, she asked for better rules on the SEC’s authority over digital assets and ways to follow them.
Trump Administration SEC Policy Changes
Recent moves by the SEC show that acting Chair Mark Uyeda is taking a softer stance on crypto enforcement. A move that some see as a political change is that the agency has dropped several high-profile cases against companies like Coinbase, Ripple, Kraken, and Immutable. Considering President Trump’s administration focuses on policies that help businesses, Peirce’s words suggest they are trying to make the regulatory environment more stable and less susceptible to political changes.
Congress and Future Crypto Oversight
As the 119th Congress goes on, lawmakers are thinking about a market structure bill that would spell out the role of the SEC and the CFTC in overseeing digital assets. Trump’s executive order on stablecoin regulation is another sign that he wants to clarify the business. If Congress can pass a law that makes all the rules consistent, it could clear up some legal questions and boost trust in crypto markets among institutions.
Conclusion
Peirce’s comments show how important it is to have clear, long-lasting rules for crypto that don’t change when politics do. The industry is at a critical point right now, with the SEC rethinking its enforcement approach, Congress discussing a crypto market structure bill, and the possibility of a new SEC chair.
