Paul Atkins

“The Commission is not cementing today's technology as the standard for tomorrow,”

Paul Atkins · said 2026-09-17 · reported 2026-09-17

Atkins described the Commission's approach to regulating tokenized securities without locking in current technology as a permanent standard.

“Instead, it is allowing the market to evolve, monitoring its development, and using that insight to inform a nimbler and future-ready regulatory framework. ... Critically, this interim measure must be followed by durable rulemaking to ensure that onchain markets remain a viable pathway as our capital markets continue to evolve.”

Paul Atkins · said 2026-09-17 · reported 2026-09-17

Atkins emphasized that the five-year Innovation Exemption is an interim measure that must be followed by durable rulemaking for onchain markets.

“The Innovation Exemption is designed to resolve challenges that have prevented responsible innovation from taking root in the United States while providing investor protections and market integrity standards,”

Paul Atkins · said 2026-09-17 · reported 2026-09-17

The SEC issued an order creating a regulatory pathway for tokenized stocks, and Atkins commented on the purpose of the Innovation Exemption in a statement.