The first podcast episode of the US SEC Chairman signaled a move towards a crypto-friendly approach: shifting from a "law enforcement-oriented" to a "collaborative innovation" strategy.

In the first episode of its official podcast hosted by Chairman Paul Atkins, co-commissioners Mark Uyeda and Hester Peirce systematically outlined the regulatory direction for 2026, signaling a clear shift from an "enforcement-oriented" to a "collaboration and innovation-oriented" approach. Atkins stated that the U.S. should be the preferred location for innovative activities such as crypto, calling the current situation a "significant inflection point for the U.S. market." Peirce emphasized the need to establish an open financial regulatory system for innovation to enhance market resilience. In recent years, the SEC has introduced several policy adjustments, including recognizing that "most crypto assets" are not securities, providing exemptions for DeFi interfaces, and withdrawing or terminating some enforcement cases against companies such as Ripple, Coinbase, and Binance. Data shows that the number of SEC enforcement actions in fiscal year 2025 decreased by 22% year-on-year, and fines and forfeitures decreased from $8.2 billion to $2.7 billion. Analysts say that past enforcement actions against the crypto industry have "led to misleading expectations." Market participants believe this shift may help attract institutional funds back and promote the development of products such as derivatives and ETFs. However, the policy's sustainability still depends on the progress of legislation in the US Congress, and the market as a whole remains cautious and wait-and-see. (Decrypt)