SEC highlights four key crypto priorities for 2025

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has identified four key priorities for crypto regulation in 2025, indicating a shift toward a more structured and collaborative approach to oversight of digital assets.

According to SEC documents and recent agency statements, the regulator’s primary focus will be on the offer, sale, and trading of crypto assets, with particular scrutiny on exchange-traded products involving Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) and Ether (CRYPTO:ETH).

The SEC also plans to address technological risks related to blockchain infrastructure, including asset security and the resilience of distributed ledger systems.

A third area of attention will be compliance among registered entities.

This includes oversight of custody solutions, wallet operations, adherence to the Bank Secrecy Act, and overall risk management protocols.

A major component of the 2025 agenda is increased public engagement.

The SEC’s newly formed Crypto Task Force is organising a series of roundtable discussions with stakeholders to assess regulatory gaps and industry concerns.

The agency’s agenda notes that “engagement with the public is essential for effective regulation,” signaling a shift away from the enforcement-heavy approach seen in recent years.

This strategic change follows a leadership transition. Former Acting Chair Mark Uyeda emphasised in a recent statement the importance of clarity and dialogue with market participants.

“We established the Crypto Task Force and withdrew enforcement actions in registration-only crypto cases,” Uyeda said, reflecting a move to reconsider previous legal actions.

Several lawsuits against major crypto firms have been dropped or suspended, underscoring the SEC’s new direction under its current leadership.

Nonetheless, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to investor protection.

The Division of Examinations confirmed that crypto oversight “will remain a top priority for 2025,” focusing on regulatory compliance and the emerging risks tied to digital assets.