The SEC is slated to publish three rule proposals in July that would set standards for crypto token offerings, broker‑dealer custody requirements and trading venue regulations, and could be released before the Senate acts on the CLARITY Act.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the agency’s 2026 regulatory agenda seeks to bring more crypto products onto U.S. markets, clarify capital‑raising rules for crypto assets, and define how tokenized securities can be custodied and traded.

The first proposal would create rules for how digital assets can be offered and sold, including potential exemptions and safe‑harbor provisions intended to provide market certainty and protect investors.

The second proposal would amend rules governing broker‑dealers, covering capital requirements, custody, customer protection and recordkeeping, which the SEC says are necessary for firms to handle tokenized securities at scale.

The third proposal would address market‑structure issues, proposing changes to the Exchange Act that would allow crypto trading on alternative trading systems and national securities exchanges.

The SEC has not yet identified the specific statutory provision for the token‑offering proposal, a point that could be contested.

Publication of any of the proposals would move the crypto regulatory discussion from Capitol Hill to the Federal Register, giving the agency a formal rulemaking process while Congress debates the CLARITY Act. The agency’s action would not replace the legislation but could provide a framework for issuers, broker‑dealers and exchanges before a Senate vote.