SEC Chair Paul Atkins Says CLARITY Act Could Define Crypto Security and Commodity Lines

Paul Atkins said he is confident Congress will adopt the CLARITY Act, while the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (U.S. markets regulator) issued new guidance on what qualifies as a security or a digital commodity.

Summary

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said he has confidence that Congress will adopt the CLARITY Act, a proposal he described alongside a new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (U.S. markets regulator) release aimed at clarifying the boundary between securities and digital commodities. According to Atkins, the release is intended to give the market clearer guidance on what counts as a security and what qualifies as a digital commodity. The distinction is central to crypto regulation because it can determine which assets fall under securities laws and which may be treated more like commodities in digital asset markets.

Terms & Concepts
  • Security: A financial instrument subject to securities laws and oversight when it represents an investment contract or similar regulated asset.
  • Digital commodity: A digital asset category generally distinguished from securities, often used to describe crypto assets treated more like commodities in regulation.
  • CLARITY Act: A legislative proposal referenced by SEC Chair Paul Atkins as a measure that could help define regulatory treatment for crypto assets.