Congress Roasts SEC in Hearing Over 'Politicized' Regulation

The SEC faced a new grilling in Congress over its heavy-handed approach to crypto.

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) found itself under fire during a congressional hearing as lawmakers and crypto leaders voiced concerns over the agency’s regulatory approach to the crypto industry.

What's the Scoop?

  • Politicized Approach: In a hearing titled "Dazed and Confused: Breaking Down the SEC’s Politicized Approach to Digital Assets," critics, including former SEC Commissioner Dan Gallagher, expressed frustration with the agency’s actions. Gallagher, now a top legal officer at Robinhood, shared his company's struggles in complying with the SEC's crypto regulations and criticized the SEC for stalling registration processes for crypto firms.
  • Unfair Targeting: Lawmakers such as Rep. French Hill Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) accused the SEC of using "regulation by enforcement" to unfairly target crypto companies despite their efforts to comply.
  • Dems Defend: Meanwhile, some Democrats, like Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), defended the SEC, emphasizing the need for crypto firms to follow established rules.

Bankless Take:

The hearing underscored the growing divide over how crypto should be regulated in the U.S. With pressure mounting on the SEC for clearer guidelines, the debate between fostering innovation and enforcing compliance is likely to intensify. Clarity will be key for the future of crypto in the U.S. as lawmakers and regulators seek common ground.


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William M. Peaster

Written by William M. Peaster

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William M. Peaster, Senior Writer, has been with Bankless since January 2021. Immersed in Ethereum since 2017, he writes the Metaversal newsletter on the onchain frontier, covering everything from AI projects to crypto games, as the team’s lead NFT analyst. With a background in creative writing, he writes fiction and publishes art on Ethereum in his free time. He lives in Washington.

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