The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing to take a major step toward establishing formal rules for cryptocurrency offerings, with commissioners set to consider a new framework that could make it easier for some digital asset companies to raise capital.
The SEC has scheduled an open meeting for Aug. 14 to consider whether to propose new rules creating a tailored offering regime for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets.
The proposal, known as "Reg Crypto," would represent the agency's first major crypto rulemaking process and could replace some of the guidance and policy statements that have shaped the SEC's treatment of digital assets in recent years.
The commission will vote on whether to formally propose the rules, CoinDesk reported, citing the agency's meeting notice.
The proposal is expected to provide a regulatory pathway for crypto projects whose token offerings involve investment contracts, potentially allowing them to raise capital under requirements specifically designed for digital assets rather than relying entirely on traditional securities registration rules.
The SEC's official meeting schedule says commissioners will consider "new rules to create a tailored offering regime for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets."
If commissioners approve the proposal, it would begin a formal rulemaking process rather than immediately changing the law. The SEC would publish the proposed regulations and seek public comments before deciding whether to adopt final rules.
The planned vote marks another significant shift in the SEC's approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
For years, one of the industry's biggest regulatory disputes has centered on whether digital assets are securities and when their sale constitutes an investment contract subject to federal securities laws.
The SEC issued a major interpretation in March aimed at clarifying how federal securities laws apply to different types of crypto assets and transactions.
That interpretation established categories for digital assets and addressed when transactions involving them could fall under securities laws.
The agency said at the time that its interpretation was designed to provide greater clarity for market participants and help determine whether particular crypto transactions involve securities.
