SEC Chair Proposes Interim Crypto Roadmap as CLARITY Act Stalls

Published at 2026-02-19 19:15:43

SEC Chair Paul Atkins released a multi-step roadmap for cryptocurrency markets focused on rulemaking and narrowly tailored exemptions to address immediate market-structure issues. With the CLARITY Act still under congressional deliberation, Atkins framed the approach as a practical, phased way for the agency to reduce uncertainty and set clearer expectations for exchanges, custodians and token issuers. The roadmap matters because it signals proactive regulatory action that could accelerate operational fixes and improve investor protections without waiting for a single comprehensive statute. While the measures are explicitly interim and may prompt legal or political pushback, they give market participants a clearer timeline for compliance and product planning — an important step for markets seeking predictable rules amid legislative delay.

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