Crypto Regulatory

2 stories across channels

#2 ★ Gold

SEC Chair Atkins Formally Exempts 18 Crypto Assets from Securities Laws, Introduces Startup Safe Harbors

At the DC Blockchain Summit on March 22, SEC Chair Paul Atkins declared 'We are not the Securities and Everything Commission anymore,' formally exempting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 16 other named digital assets from securities laws. The SEC established two new safe harbors: a startup exemption allowing projects to raise up to $5M over 4 years without registration, and a fundraising exemption permitting up to $75M per 12 months. Staking and mining are now explicitly classified as administrative activities, not securities transactions. Atkins endorsed the bipartisan CLARITY Act, stating he trusts it will reach President Trump's desk soon.

The Frontier Desk · Monday, March 23, 2026
#4 ★ Gold

SEC Crypto Compliance Playbook: Token Lifecycle Model Means DAOs Can Graduate Out of Securities Status

StartSmart Counsel published a detailed analysis of the SEC's 2026 guidance practical implications. Key finding: a lifecycle-based model is emerging where tokens can transition in and out of securities status based on development stage and team involvement. Early-stage tokens with active development teams carry higher securities risk; mature decentralized systems reduce compliance burden. Staking is now explicitly administrative (not securities), enabling financial institutions to generate yield. The Howey Test still governs classification, but the separation concept—tokens ceasing to be securities when fully decentralized—gives DAOs a concrete compliance roadmap. Critical warning: informal marketing on Discord and Twitter can trigger securities classification regardless of token structure.

The Frontier Desk · Monday, March 23, 2026