SEC Chairman Paul Atkins put crypto, IPOs, and private markets at the center of the agency’s 2026 Regulatory Agenda, released July 7. The plan aims to bring more products onshore and set clearer rules for custody and trading of tokenized securities.
The SEC wants to write the rules for crypto assets and tokenized securities rather than leave them to enforcement. Chairman Paul Atkins released a July 7 statement on the 2026 Regulatory Agenda, placing crypto, IPOs, and private markets at the center of the agency’s rulemaking priorities.
Atkins was sworn in on April 21, 2025, as the SEC’s 34th chairman. He framed the agenda around protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and keeping markets fair, orderly, and efficient.
Crypto rules move toward clarity
Crypto policy sits among the agenda’s central priorities, targeting rules for crypto assets, tokenized securities, and related market infrastructure. According to Bitcoin News, Atkins said: “We are embracing innovation to bring more products onshore”, creating clear rules for capital raising and clarifying how participants can custody and trade tokenized securities onchain.
The effort aligns with President Trump’s stated goal of making the United States the crypto capital of the world. The agenda also says investor protection guardrails will stay in place while the SEC continues pursuing securities law violations.
IPO reform and private market access
The agenda also targets public companies and capital formation. Atkins said he has focused on reversing the decline of public companies and revitalizing public markets to “Make IPOs Great Again,” with proposed disclosure reforms meant to reduce compliance burdens while preserving investor protections.
Private markets form the third pillar. Atkins said exposure to public and private markets should not be reserved for wealthy insiders, and the agenda includes a proposal to expand retail investor participation in private markets with appropriate safeguards.
For now the document sets priorities, not final rules. Its impact rests on the Commission’s specific proposals, implementation details, and safeguards for issuers, investors, and market participants.
Source: Bitcoin News
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