Crypto Regulation Takes Center Stage as SEC and CFTC Coordinate Efforts

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) are signaling a new era of cooperation in regulating digital assets. At a Monday roundtable in Washington, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins emphasized that “crypto is job one,” highlighting the agency’s commitment to building a coordinated regulatory framework with its sister regulator.

Atkins stressed that seamless collaboration is crucial as both agencies take on central roles in overseeing the fast-growing crypto markets. The SEC will focus on crypto securities, while the CFTC — expected to receive more authority from Congress — will oversee the bulk of digital asset transactions. “Our two agencies must work in lockstep,” Atkins said, pointing to a future where firms and platforms can navigate both securities and commodities rules without friction.

CFTC Acting Chairman Caroline Pham echoed this sentiment, declaring, “It’s a new day, and the turf war is over.” She assured the audience that the CFTC is moving rapidly under her leadership despite lacking a permanent chair, dismissing market fears and reinforcing the agency’s stability. Atkins praised Pham’s leadership, describing their joint efforts as moving “full-speed ahead.”

On the sidelines, Atkins reinforced that crypto is currently the SEC’s top priority. He also noted that President Donald Trump is pushing for a market structure bill to be signed by year’s end, setting an ambitious timeline for crypto regulation. One area of special focus is asset tokenization, which Atkins described as having “endless potential,” though he admitted it may take a year or two to establish proper regulatory guardrails.

Dismissing speculation about a potential merger between the SEC and CFTC, Atkins called such talk “fanciful.” Instead, both agencies are focusing on cooperation. Industry leaders from firms including Kraken, Crypto.com, Polymarket, Kalshi, and Robinhood participated in the roundtable, underscoring the importance of regulator-industry collaboration.

With both agencies aligned, the U.S. appears poised to advance a unified framework for digital assets — signaling greater regulatory clarity for the crypto industry.