SEC Chairman Paul Atkins expressed gratitude to stakeholders across the administration, Congress, investors, and innovators who have advanced the CLARITY Act, while confirming the agency will proceed with regulatory action regardless of the legislation’s fate.
“I have been unequivocal: with or without legislation, we will act decisively within the SEC’s statutory authority to deliver certainty for American investors and for the entrepreneurs shaping our technological future,” Atkins said. “Stay tuned.”
A Pattern of Agency-Level Action
Atkins’ remarks followed a separate announcement outlining the SEC’s latest regulatory proposals, which he characterized as reflecting a focus on keeping Commission rules within the agency’s statutory authority while aligning with current and anticipated market practices.
The SEC proposed rescinding Rule 14a-8, arguing the rule exceeds the agency’s statutory scope and intrudes into matters of state law. The Commission also proposed amendments to Rule 14a-4(c), aimed at giving companies more flexibility and shareholders greater control over proposals eligible for discretionary proxy voting authority.
House Advances Crypto Tax Legislation
Separately, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced the Digital Asset Tax Certainty Act in a 38-5 vote. The bill would ease tax treatment for small cryptocurrency transactions, clarify how stablecoins are handled, and address rules governing mining, staking, and wash sales. The legislation still requires full House approval before moving to the Senate.
The proposed legislation would eliminate capital gains tax on crypto transactions and network fees under $10, with certain exceptions, and also covers staking, mining, tokenized assets, wash sales, and rules for crypto brokers.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Under Consideration
Alongside the tax bill, lawmakers are also considering the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill, which would lock up the roughly $25 billion in Bitcoin currently held by the U.S. government for a period of 20 years.
Shifting Legislative Momentum
With the CLARITY Act stalled in the Senate, momentum in Washington has shifted toward narrower, more targeted measures. The current approach combines agency rulemaking from the SEC on one front with House-level tax and reserve legislation on the other, rather than pursuing the comprehensive market structure framework the CLARITY Act was designed to deliver.
