- The SEC’s dramatic policy shift in favor of DeFi has given Ethereum a major boost, with Chair Paul Atkins endorsing staking, self-custody, and open-source development.
- Following the announcement, ETH surged 8%, signaling renewed investor confidence amid calls to make the U.S. the global crypto leader.
In a groundbreaking shift that could reshape the future of decentralized finance, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins has thrown his weight behind DeFi innovation—marking a significant policy reversal and sending Ethereum prices soaring 8%.
Speaking at the SEC’s Crypto Task Force Roundtable on June 9, Atkins declared that “the American values of economic liberty, private property rights, and innovation are in the DNA of the DeFi movement.” This bold endorsement comes after years of the agency taking an adversarial stance toward DeFi and crypto staking.
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Atkins sharply criticized outdated regulatory frameworks, saying they were never designed for decentralized, self-executing blockchain protocols. In a major shift, he clarified that individuals participating as miners, validators, or staking providers are not violating federal securities laws—removing a cloud of regulatory uncertainty that has hovered over Ethereum for years.
Further signaling a more crypto-friendly SEC, Atkins supported allowing self-custody of digital assets and clarified that publishing staking or wallet code is not considered brokerage activity. These comments provide newfound clarity for developers, users, and investors alike.
The SEC chair also proposed a new “innovation exemption” that would streamline the path for compliant on-chain products and services to enter the U.S. market. This exemption, Atkins suggested, aligns with former President Trump’s vision to make the U.S. the global leader in crypto innovation.
Ethereum developer Eric Conner celebrated the news, calling it a “huge day for Ethereum,” especially as the platform remains the undisputed leader in DeFi with $68 billion in total value locked and a 55% market share.
Markets responded swiftly. Ethereum (ETH) jumped from below $2,500 to hit $2,720 during Asian trading hours. However, the rally hit resistance near the $2,720 level—a ceiling ETH has struggled to break multiple times this past month. A push past $2,800 is seen as the next key level to confirm bullish momentum.
If these regulatory shifts translate into lasting policy, Ethereum may finally have the green light to lead a new era of American DeFi dominance.