The US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has placed digital assets within the scope of strategic priority at the corporate level. In the draft strategy plan of the institution covering the fiscal years 2026 and 2030, published on Tuesday, it was stated that a clearer regulatory framework will be created for blockchain technology, tokenization and crypto market infrastructure.
Separate target defined for digital assets
In addition to general objectives such as capital formation, investor protection and modernization of the institution, the draft plan included a special title devoted to digital assets and distributed ledger technologies. SEC stated that it aims to establish a solid regulatory basis with a consistent, principled and rational approach in this field.
The SEC stated that it aims to establish a solid regulatory foundation with a consistent and principled approach for digital assets and distributed ledger technologies.
The institution also emphasized that blockchain and crypto asset technologies have the potential to transform the US financial infrastructure. As the primary federal agency regulating the U.S. capital markets, the SEC has authority over securities issuances, brokerage firms, and stock exchanges.
Mini dictionary: Tokenization means creating a digital representation of real-world assets or financial instruments on the blockchain. Distributed ledger technology refers to the infrastructure where data is kept simultaneously in multiple nodes instead of a single center.
The document acknowledged that the growth of the digital asset market has outpaced existing regulations. Therefore, it was noted that stronger legal clarity is required for market participants. It was stated that tokenized issuances and on-chain financial infrastructure are also seen as areas that can support capital formation in accordance with the rules.
Custody, transaction and staking services were also included in the plan
The SEC stated that custody, trading and staking services must be able to operate under appropriate oversight. The Authority also pointed out that these services should not face conflicting or duplicate regulatory obligations.
The document emphasized that custody, transaction and staking services must be able to operate under appropriate control and without conflicting or duplicative regulatory burdens.
Power sharing between SEC and CFTC is on the agenda again
Another important topic in the draft plan was to clarify the separation of duties between the SEC and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission CFTC. One of the topics that has been discussed for a long time in digital asset regulations in the USA is the question of which products and activities fall under the control of which institution.
The SEC stated that establishing a more harmonious regulatory framework is not limited to just writing new rules, but also requires clarifying questions of jurisdiction between the SEC and the CFTC. CFTC stands out as the federal agency that oversees futures and derivatives markets in the United States, especially in commodity products.
| Organisation | Role in the draft plan |
|---|---|
| SEC | Establishing a clearer regulatory basis for digital assets |
| CFTC | To be among the institutions where the boundaries of authority will be more clearly defined |
The two institutions have previously taken steps for closer coordination in this direction. In March, the SEC and CFTC signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation and information sharing at a time when emerging technologies are reshaping financial markets.
Jurisdiction limits are also of central importance for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which is being discussed in Congress. The bill, which aims to create a comprehensive market structure framework for the digital asset market, is expected to increase the CFTC’s authority over a wide part of the market. The bill passed the Senate Banking Committee last month and is expected to be voted on in the Senate plenary session next.
