The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chair Mark Uyeda has proposed a temporary, time-limited regulatory framework that could provide near-term relief to blockchain innovators while broader policy takes shape. Speaking at the SEC’s April 11 Crypto Task Force roundtable titled “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading,” Uyeda suggested that conditional exemptive relief could serve as a regulatory bridge to encourage growth without sacrificing oversight. “A time-limited, conditional exemptive relief framework for registrants and non-registrants could allow for greater innovation with blockchain technology within the United States in the near term,” the SEC chair said, calling for public input on areas where such relief might make the most impact. The proposal comes at a time when crypto companies are increasingly burdened by a confusing mix of state and federal regulations. Uyeda warned against the growing fragmentation of oversight across states, noting that navigating a patchwork of licensing regimes has become a serious hurdle for firms hoping to bring tokenized securities and other digital assets to market. A unified federal framework, he argued, would ease those burdens significantly by offering a single SEC licensing path—rather than requiring compliance with dozens of individual state laws. Blockchain’s Role in Capital Efficiency Beyond just easing legal bottlenecks, Uyeda underscored blockchain’s growing relevance in modern finance. He highlighted its potential to transform capital markets, particularly in clearing, settlement, and collateral management. “Blockchains can be used to manage and mobilize collateral in tokenized form to increase capital efficiency and liquidity,” he said, pointing to faster and more reliable settlement possibilities. His comments mark a major tone shift from the Gary Gensler era, when the SEC took a far more skeptical view of blockchain’s financial value. Uyeda’s remarks were met with optimism by crypto industry figures at the roundtable, including representatives from Uniswap Labs, Cumberland DRW, and Coinbase. Uyeda Stirs Policy Waters Uyeda, who has held the acting chair role since January 20 following Gensler’s departure , will continue to lead the SEC until President Trump’s nominee, Paul Atkins, is officially sworn in. The Senate confirmed Atkins in a 52–44 vote on April 10. Before the transition, Uyeda has signaled a willingness to reconsider or even withdraw legacy proposals from the Biden administration, including stricter crypto custody rules for investment advisers. “We’re working closely with the crypto task force to explore more fitting alternatives,” he said, offering a glimpse into a potentially more open-minded SEC under his brief but impactful leadership. The post SEC’s Uyeda Floats Temporary Crypto Framework to Spark Innovation appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
