SEC Delays Reg Crypto Rules as Clarity Act Talks Take Priority

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has postponed key crypto regulatory initiatives as lawmakers continue negotiations over the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, raising fresh uncertainty over the timeline for U.S. digital asset regulation.

The SEC canceled an open meeting scheduled for last Friday, where commissioners were expected to discuss the agency’s proposed “Reg Crypto” framework. The proposal is intended to establish clearer rules for companies raising capital through token offerings, including a potential pathway for projects issuing their own digital assets to eventually move outside SEC oversight.

The regulator was also expected to reveal at least part of its long-delayed innovation exemption. The initiative could provide guidance for tokenized securities and clarify how issuers should handle the traditional securities underlying blockchain-based products. Neither initiative moved forward.

According to individuals familiar with the situation, the SEC delays are linked to concerns surrounding the Clarity Act. The White House and lawmakers reportedly fear that new SEC crypto rules could complicate negotiations before the Senate’s expected first vote on the legislation in September.