Paul SEC chairman, just announced the next, massive step in ‘Project Crypto’, the initiative to modernize U.S. digital asset rules. Speaking at the Philadelphia Fed Fintech Conference, the Paul Atkins Project Crypto became the limelight of the entire speech.
He unveiled plans for a clear framework, and token taxonomy, that will finally draw bright lines between assets that are regulated as securities and those that are not.
The best part? He acknowledged that the majority of tokens currently trading are not securities. This is a huge shift in tone and a major victory for innovators who have been waiting for predictable rules.

This latest sec crypto regulation Paul Atkins announcement on X aims to end the confusion and legal uncertainty that has plagued the market for years.
The SEC chair paul atkins project crypto summary reflects security exchange commission’s new approach, that is flexible and is guided by two common principles, which apply the well-known Howey Test:

Source: Eleanor Terrett X Post
A Tokenized Asset is Still Itself: An asset doesn't change what it is just because you put it on a blockchain. A stock is still a stock, a bond is still a bond, even if tokenized. Their legal identity stays the same, regardless of being onchain.
Reality Over Labels: You can't escape the rules just by calling something an "NFT" or "token." The new sec crypto regulation says, the chairman and his team will look into what the asset actually does. If it represents expected profits that are dependent on the efforts of a central management team, then it is likely a security.
The proposed framework, being developed by the Paul Atkins Project Crypto Task Force, clearly separates digital assets into four main groups, solving the biggest question in the market:
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| Asset Type | SEC Classification | Why it's Classified This Way |
|---|---|---|
| Network Tokens/Digital Commodities | NOT Securities | These are things like Bitcoin or tokens needed for a decentralized network to work. |
| Digital Collectibles (NFTs, art, game assets) | NOT Securities | NFTs not securities—these are viewed as digital items or collectibles. |
| Digital Tools (tickets, memberships) | NOT Securities | Used only for access or utility, not for making profit from a central team. |
| Tokenized Securities (stocks/bonds) | ARE Securities | These are traditional assets (stocks, bonds) just put onto a blockchain; they are still regulated. |
These are traditional assets (stocks, bonds) just put onto a blockchain; they are still regulated.
One of the most important concepts from the Paul Atkins crypto speech is that a token's legal status can change.
Start as Securities: A token might start as a security if people are relying on the founding team to build the project and make the price go up.
The Transformation: Once the network can stand alone, the token may stop being a security because its value doesn't rely on the original team's efforts anymore.
The Analogy: He used a classic example called the Howey citrus grove analogy. The land was a security only because it was sold with a contract to manage the grove for profit. Once that contract ended, the land was just land. The same logic applies to digital assets that grow past their initial launch phase.
The latest Paul Atkins Project crypto news also includes plans to give innovators and investors much-needed flexibility:
Non-security assets could be allowed to trade on platforms regulated by the CFTC or state platforms, not just SEC-registered exchanges. This is a great step to help innovation while still keeping rules in place.
In his latest X post, he assured that the agency is working with Congress and that this framework will help, not replace, new laws.
The sec chair Paul Atkins Project Crypto plan confirms the agency is moving beyond being afraid of the new technology. As Chairman Atkins boldly stated: "We will not let fear of the future trap us in the past.” This news signals a commitment to creating clearer, fairer rules for the U.S. to become a leader in digital finance.
Sara Sethiya is an experienced crypto journalist with five years of experience in blockchain research, price movements, and market analysis. With a background in mass communication and journalism, she specializes in data-driven news articles, in-depth market reports, and SEO-optimized content. As a team lead and content writer at CoinGabbar, she examines on-chain metrics, evaluates liquidity trends, and analyzes tokenomics to uncover market patterns. Her analytical approach helps traders and investors interpret market shifts, identify potential opportunities, and understand the broader impact of blockchain innovations on the financial ecosystem.