The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released its 2026 Regulatory Agenda, which includes a suite of digital asset regulations, with formal rule proposals commencing as of July 2026.
According to its agenda, under its proposed Crypto Assets ruling, the Division of Corporation Finance is suggesting the SEC consider certain exemptions and safe harbours to help clarify the regulatory framework for crypto assets and provide greater market certainty, facilitate capital formation, and accommodate market innovation.
The framework also seeks to adequately protect investors, providing them with sufficient information to make informed investment decisions.
The Division of Trading and Markets is also considering putting forward amendments to the broker-dealer financial responsibility and recordkeeping rules.
Rules 15c3-1 — requiring broker-dealers to maintain a minimum amount of liquid assets — and 15c3-3 — preventing broker-dealers from using customer cash and securities to finance their own proprietary businesses — are being recommended for amendment to apply to crypto assets.
Additionally, Rules 17a-3 — requiring firms to document daily operations, account activities, and risk controls — and 17a-4 — mandating the retention of electronic and written communications for up to six years — are being recommended for amendment and made applicable to crypto assets.
The division is also putting forward recommendations for changes to Exchange Act rules, proposing greater clarity regarding the regulatory framework for crypto assets, providing more market certainty, and supplying clear provisions for the issuance, custody, and trading of the asset class.
Lastly, the Division of Investment Management is recommending amendments to improve and modernise regulations surrounding the custody of investment adviser client assets and fund assets.
Currently, according to the division, investment advisers and investment companies have raised questions about how to hold crypto assets in compliance with the current custody requirements, which the rulemaking will address by clarifying the specific framework for the custody of the asset class.
It will also modernise the ruleset through the removal of burdens from certain outdated provisions that are no longer necessary to provide investor protection stemming from market evolution and security, trading, and holding practices.
Speaking on the agenda, Paul S. Atkins, Chairman of the SEC, says: “This Commission recognises the importance of advancing our regulatory framework to reflect the realities of today’s operating environment — embracing innovation and new technology.
“We are embracing innovation to bring more products onshore, creating clear rules of the road for capital raising with crypto assets, and providing clarity as to how market participants can custody and facilitate trading of tokenised securities onchain.”
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