Nasdaq Urges SEC for Clearer Crypto Regulations Amid Industry Changes

Nasdaq has called on the SEC to classify certain cryptocurrencies as traditional financial securities, advocating for clearer and more consistent regulatory standards for digital assets. This comes amid a broader shift in the SEC's approach, with new chairman Paul Atkins emphasizing the need for clear regulatory 'rules of the road' and criticizing prior 'regulatory uncertainty' that stifled innovation in the sector. Atkins has signaled a more pro-cryptocurrency stance, aligning with broader efforts by the current administration to overhaul crypto policy and foster integration of digital assets into the traditional financial system. Nasdaq’s proposals include treating some crypto assets as 'digital asset investment contracts' subject to lighter, but still SEC-supervised, regulation. Both Nasdaq and the new SEC leadership highlight that clearer regulations could provide certainty for investors while encouraging innovation and maintaining market security.