SEC Chair Paul Atkins Signals Crypto Safe Harbor Exemptions, Outlines Four Asset Buckets

On March 18, SEC Chair Paul Atkins said he is considering a crypto “safe harbor” that would let projects operate without immediate securities registration while they work toward decentralization. He also described four crypto asset categories—digital commodities, collectibles, tools, and payment stablecoins—as outside securities laws, and suggested custody rules could be revised to allow broker-dealers to hold crypto and traditional securities together.