At a Midtown Manhattan panel, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins confirmed plans to create an Innovation Hub to support domestic digital asset and technology-related business operations, aiming for an earliest possible rollout by the end of this quarter, as reported by CoinDesk and COINOTAG. Atkins acknowledged that the current U.S. government shutdown has been limiting the agency’s rule-making progress, but emphasized the exemption and related regulatory framework will remain a priority to advance toward implementation by the end of the year or the first quarter of 2026. Market participants should monitor the SEC’s guidance for concrete timetables and compliance requirements.