SEC Chair Paul Atkins said Wednesday the Commission plans to introduce a formal classification system for digital assets to clarify when tokens qualify as securities.
“In the coming months, I anticipate that the Commission will consider establishing a token taxonomy,” Atkins said, adding that the framework would define the legal limits distinguishing securities from commodities.
Atkins said the agency also expects to review a set of exemptions to create a “tailored offering regime” for tokens classified as securities under investment contracts, aligning with crypto legislation advancing in Congress. He echoed President Trump’s call for lawmakers to finalize comprehensive crypto market structure reform by year’s end.
Speaking at a financial technology conference hosted by the Philadelphia Federal Reserve, Atkins said the move aims to provide long-sought regulatory clarity to the digital asset industry, a sector the Trump administration has vowed to modernize through streamlined oversight.
