Sources close to the SEC suggest that the agency could announce a review of past cases and the revocation of regulations such as SAB 121, which would positively impact the growth of cryptocurrencies in the United States.
With Donald Trump on the cusp of taking power in the White House, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is preparing to review cryptocurrency-related cases and, according to sources, revoke the controversial SAB 121 accounting rule.
If these regulatory changes come to fruition, the agency could pave the way for greater enterprise adoption of digital assets in the United States and around the world.
SEC SAB-121 Case Review and Possible Revocation
Sources close to the SEC they said Republican Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda are leading efforts to review the agency's current policies, including the possibility of freezing some enforcement actions against cryptocurrency companies and projects, as long as they do not involve allegations of fraud. They also said that Paul Atkins, who was appointed by Trump to take over as SEC chairman after the Gary Gensler resigns, push for a significant shift in the agency's regulatory stance toward cryptocurrencies, marking a contrast with the previous administration led by Gensler.
These moves could have an immediate impact on the sector, especially on projects and companies that have faced SEC lawsuits in recent years, such as Ripple and Opensea, among others.
Furthermore, the Possible revocation of accounting guide SAB 121, which has made it difficult for public companies to hold cryptocurrencies, could also reduce the operational costs of offering crypto-based services and encourage greater institutional investment in these digital assets.
With Bitcoin is very close to surpassing $100.000 today, due to the optimism generated by the new Trump administration and macroeconomic conditions, analysts anticipate that these regulatory changes could accelerate the growth of the sector and consolidate the United States as a leader in the adoption of blockchain technologies.
More than 80 compliance cases against cryptocurrencies
Under the new Atkins administration, the SEC could begin reviewing the More than 80 compliance cases related to cryptocurrencies that are in court and were initiated by the agency under Gensler's leadership. According to sources, who asked to remain anonymous, some of these cases, especially those that do not involve allegations of fraud, could be frozen or even withdrawn.
The move would be a sharp shift from the securities regulator’s stance under Gensler, who led a regulatory crackdown on the sector in recent years, arguing that many cryptocurrency tokens should be treated as securities and therefore subject to the agency’s rules. However, affected companies have argued that cryptocurrencies are more like commodities than securities, and that the current rules are not clearly defined, leading to further uncertainty.
The review of these cases could set an important precedent for the industry, as would provide greater clarity on how digital assets are regulated in the United States. It could also open the door to settlement negotiations in pending cases, something the SEC under Gensler was reluctant to do.
The repeal of SAB 121 and its impact on businesses
Another key measure the SEC could announce is the repeal of the SAB 121 accounting guide, which has been criticized for making it prohibitively expensive for public companies to hold cryptocurrencies on behalf of third parties. This regulation, implemented during the Biden administration, has been a significant obstacle to institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies.
The possible Removing SAB 121 could reduce operating costs for regulated financial firms looking to integrate cryptocurrencies into their business models, which in turn could attract more institutional investors to the sector. Moreover, the reversal of this guidance could send a positive signal to the market, showing that the new administration is willing to take a more favorable approach towards cryptocurrencies. This could further boost the price of Bitcoin and other digital assets, such as Ripple and Dogecoin, which have already seen a significant rally in recent months.
The role of Paul Atkins and the new SEC leadership
The appointment of Paul Atkins as the next SEC chairman has been a key factor in Trump’s regulatory shift toward cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Atkins, a former commissioner of the agency and a well-known cryptocurrency advocate, has in the past criticized the SEC’s tough stance under Gensler.
Sources indicated that, along with Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda, Atkins has already been discussing potential changes to cryptocurrency policy. He and his team are expected to begin a consultation process with the industry and the public to draft new regulations that will encourage innovation in the country. Although this could take several months, if these happen first steps towards a new and promising direction, the impact on the crypto market could be immediate and significant, as it would provide greater expectations regarding the clarity and certainty expected by companies operating in the cryptoasset sector.
The SEC’s potential regulatory changes toward cryptocurrencies could also mark a turning point for the cryptocurrency sector in the United States. With more supportive governance and greater regulatory clarity, companies could feel more comfortable investing in emerging technologies, such as blockchain and digital assets.
In addition, the potential repeal of SAB 121 and review of compliance cases could attract more institutional investors to the sector, driving market growth and consolidating the United States as a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption and innovation.
In summary, Next week could be a historic moment for the crypto industry, with the SEC hinting at regulatory changes that could have a significant impact on the growth and adoption of these emerging technologies in the United States and around the world.
