SEC Chair Atkins’ Crypto Reforms Could Be Partially Reversed by a Future U.S. Administration, Experts Say

• Key point 1 – Durable rules curb quick reversals:

• Key point 2 – Enforcement priority shifts are fastest route to change.

• Key point 3 – Statutory changes require Congress and are hardest to undo; agency interpretations can change via notice-and-comment.

SEC future-proofing crypto: Expert analysis on whether Paul Atkins’ SEC changes can be reversed—read implications for investors and firms.

Could a future US presidential administration undo the SEC’s recent crypto policy shifts in days? Legal and regulatory experts outline which changes are durable and which are vulnerable to swift political or administrative reversal.

Paul Atkins is moving to cement a long-term approach to digital-asset regulation as SEC chair. He is rapidly advancing rules and interagency coordination intended to “future-proof” policy for markets and investors. Several changes under his leadership affect ETF listing standards, reporting, and agency collaboration.

Before his confirmation, agency leadership had already softened enforcement posture toward crypto and created focused task forces to handle digital assets. Under Atkins, the SEC has considered altering reporting cadence, harmonizing with the CFTC, and revising how securities laws apply to certain crypto products.

“We have, I think, an amazing opportunity to get together and, in a can-do spirit, kind of create something that’s lasting,” Atkins said in public remarks on interagency collaboration and market-based solutions.

On collaboration with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Atkins warned against fragmented oversight that kills innovation when agencies clash over jurisdiction and product approvals.

Paul Atkins (right) speaking in New York on Tuesday. Source: Managed Funds Association

What is SEC future-proofing crypto?

SEC future-proofing crypto is the SEC chair’s effort to adopt rules, agency guidance, and interagency frameworks that make digital-asset regulation more stable across political cycles. The goal is to create formal rulemaking, harmonized oversight with the CFTC, and market-based standards that are less easily reversed than informal guidance.

How could a future US president or SEC chair undo Atkins’ policies?

A future administration cannot instantly erase finalized SEC rules, but it can substantially affect outcomes by changing enforcement priorities and leadership. Final rules adopted through notice-and-comment require formal processes to repeal and often face judicial or legislative checks. In contrast, policy statements and internal priorities can be shifted quickly by new commissioners.

Andrew Forson, president of DeFi Technologies, notes that momentum behind digital assets makes wholesale reversals difficult, but new entrants could face tougher requirements if leadership changes. David B. Hoppe, a technology and media attorney, emphasizes the distinction between binding rulemaking and nonbinding agency statements: the latter can be rescinded with little procedural friction but still heavily influence market behavior.

What about SEC regulations changed by Congress?

Statutory changes passed by Congress and signed by the president are the most durable form of reform; undoing them requires another act of Congress. Market-structure legislation currently under Senate consideration could lock in some changes that the SEC and CFTC would implement via rulemaking.

Hoppe explains that agency rules implementing a statute are subject to the standard notice-and-comment process, which makes amendments or withdrawals possible but procedurally deliberate. Thus, statutory adoption creates a higher barrier to rapid reversal than internal policy shifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long would it take to repeal an SEC final rule?

Repealing a finalized SEC rule typically requires a new rulemaking process, including notice-and-comment, which can take months to years depending on complexity and legal challenges.

Would existing crypto products be immediately affected by a policy reversal?

Existing, grandfathered products would likely remain operational, but new entrants could face stricter approvals and reporting requirements, slowing innovation and market access.

Key Takeaways

• Durability of rules: Final rules adopted by the SEC are harder to undo than informal guidance.
• Fastest lever: Changing enforcement priorities is the quickest way a new administration can affect crypto markets.
• Role of Congress: Statutory changes are the most permanent but require legislative action to modify.

Conclusion

Paul Atkins’ push to future-proof SEC crypto policy increases regulatory stability for digital-assets, but significant vulnerability remains in the form of shifting enforcement priorities and nonbinding guidance. For durable change, statutory action and interagency alignment are key—market participants should monitor rulemaking records and Congressional developments. COINOTAG will continue to report updates and expert analysis.

Publication date: 2025-10-08. Updated: 2025-10-10. Author: COINOTAG.