#PreciousMetalsLeadGains ⚡SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins used this exact phrase in his speech at the Washington DC Blockchain Summit on Tuesday, March 17, 2026:

“We’re breaking from the past. We are now giving clarity from the SEC’s perspective as to what are and are not securities.”
⚡On the same day, the SEC and CFTC jointly published a historic interpretive guidance. This document provides a clear taxonomy for the first time regarding whether crypto assets are “securities or not.” As Atkins said: “The SEC’s failure to provide clarity for over 10 years has ended.”
⚡The American crypto sector has been drowning in a quagmire of “regulation-by-enforcement” for years. Under former Chairman Gary Gensler, the SEC was flooding lawsuits, treating almost every token as an “investment contract.” This uncertainty was driving innovation abroad, scaring entrepreneurs, and eroding billions of dollars in market capitalization. On March 17, 2026, this page was officially translated along with Paul Atkins. 1. What Has Changed? “Token Taxonomy” and Clear Boundaries
The 68-page guidance published by the SEC divides crypto assets into simple and understandable categories:
Most crypto assets are NOT securities (Bitcoin and Ethereum are clearly in this category).
They are only considered securities under certain conditions (e.g., when marketed as an “investment contract” by a centralized team).
The Howey Test (the classic criterion used since 1946) is now put into an applicable, predictable framework for crypto.
Atkins and commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda emphasized in a joint op-ed on CoinDesk: “We are establishing a flat taxonomy — most crypto are not securities — and clarifying how we apply the Howey Test when it involves an investment contract.”
This is also historic as it is the first joint guidance published with the CFTC. The two institutions are now working in coordination instead of engaging in a "turf war" (power struggle).
2. What Does This Mean for the Market and the Sector?
Victory for Institutions and Entrepreneurs: Projects no longer have to spend millions on lawyers to determine if a token is a security. There are clear rules → registration, compliance, and innovation will accelerate.
Green Light for DeFi and Real-World Assets (RWA): Non-custodial wallets, prediction markets, and tokenized real-world assets will now be able to operate more easily.
Investor Protection Balance: Atkins is sending the message that "we protect the investor but we don't stifle innovation." Instead of the old "sue everything" approach, the philosophy of "drawing clear lines" prevails.
Market Reaction: Short-term increases were seen in Bitcoin and Ethereum after the news. Analysts are calling it "the biggest regulatory step for crypto in 2026."
3. Political and Strategic Dimension
This move is a concrete part of President Trump's promise to "make the US the crypto capital." Atkins, a pro-crypto figure appointed by Trump, accelerated these reforms with "Project Crypto" as soon as he took office. While congressional legislation like the Clarity Act is still pending, this step taken by the SEC under its own authority signals the market to "don't wait, act." Although critics (mostly the former Gensler team and some Democrats) say "such rapid change is risky," the general atmosphere in the sector is enthusiastic. Because 10 years of uncertainty ended overnight.
🕵️A Real Turning Point
Paul Atkins' statement, "We are breaking away from the past," is not an empty slogan. This is one of the most important pages in American regulatory history in terms of crypto. The SEC is now moving from being an "enemy" to a "partner." What we will see in the next 6-12 months: More registered crypto products, the institutionalization of DeFi, tokenized stocks and real estate explosions... And of course, the institutional influx that comes with the official registration of Bitcoin & Ethereum's "non-security" status. In short: Yes, the news is fresh and real. A historic victory for clarity in the crypto sector. There is no longer any "gray area" — only the green light and a clear path.
👉For those who want to closely follow this change: It is worthwhile to read the SEC's official guidance (interpretive guidance no. 33-11412) and Atkins' DC Blockchain Summit speech. The future is being shaped by clear rules.
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