SEC Reveals Ambitious Plans for Super-App Crypto Platforms in Light of Regulatory Changes

On September 10, 2025, at the inaugural OECD Roundtable on Global Financial Markets in Paris, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul S. Atkins conveyed a powerful message regarding digital assets. He proclaimed:

"Today, ladies and gentlemen, we must acknowledge that: the time for crypto has arrived."

Atkins believes that years of depending on enforcement actions have weakened U.S. competitiveness. He remarked: "For far too long, the SEC has used its investigatory, subpoena, and enforcement powers to undermine the crypto sector. This strategy has proven not only ineffective but also harmful; it has pushed jobs, innovation, and investment abroad. American entrepreneurs have suffered the consequences and have had to spend vast amounts on legal defenses rather than focusing on their businesses. That era is now behind us."

While discussing "Project Crypto," Atkins highlighted the agency's transition towards a more organized regulatory framework. "A new era has begun at the SEC. Policy will no longer be dictated by random enforcement actions. We will establish clear and predictable guidelines to ensure that innovators can flourish in the United States," he stated. He directly connected this initiative to the White House's agenda: "President Trump has assigned me and my colleagues throughout the Administration the mission of making America the global hub for crypto—and the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets has provided a comprehensive plan to steer us in these endeavors."

At the heart of the strategy lies the need for legal clarity regarding token classification. Atkins elaborated:

"Our objectives are straightforward: we need to establish certainty about the security status of crypto assets. The majority of crypto tokens do not qualify as securities, and we will clearly define the boundaries."

In addition to classification, the SEC will support advancements in trading platforms and custody solutions. Atkins remarked: "It is crucial that we enable entrepreneurs to raise capital on-chain without facing endless legal ambiguities. Furthermore, we must foster innovation in 'super-app' trading platforms that enhance options for market participants. These platforms should be permitted to provide trading, lending, and staking services under one regulatory framework. Investors, advisers, and broker-dealers ought to have the liberty to select from various custody options as well."

The SEC chairman further stated: "In alignment with the recent Working Group report, the SEC will collaborate with other agencies to ensure that a platform can facilitate trading in crypto assets (regardless of their security status), along with services such as staking and lending, all under a unified regulatory framework. I am convinced that regulators should impose only the minimum necessary regulations to safeguard investors, and nothing beyond that. We must avoid overloading entrepreneurs with redundant regulations that only the largest players can manage." Atkins framed these reforms as a cornerstone for U.S. leadership in blockchain finance, aimed at fostering innovation while upholding vital investor protections.