SEC Proposes Innovative Exemption Policy: Opens Compliance Pilot Program for Crypto Companies

ME News, December 8 (UTC+8), Paul S. Atkins, Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), recently stated that the SEC is formulating a landmark “innovation exemption” policy, which is expected to be released in January 2026. This policy is seen as a temporary regulatory pilot mechanism that will allow eligible crypto and on-chain enterprises to be exempt from certain securities registration and compliance requirements within a limited scope, in order to accelerate product testing, application implementation, and technological innovation.

According to Digital Reserve, the policy aims to provide transitional regulatory relief for crypto and on-chain enterprises, enabling them to launch products more smoothly under a clear compliance framework. It is designed to establish a predictable regulatory pathway for Web3 projects with institutional adoption potential, reduce compliance uncertainty and input costs, and thereby enhance the United States’ competitiveness in digital asset innovation. At the same time, the exemption does not represent a relaxation of regulation, but rather incorporates enterprises into new disclosure and investor protection requirements. This policy is viewed as an important signal of a regulatory shift from the long-criticized “regulation by enforcement” approach to a more “rules-based” framework. (Source: ME)