SEC Chair Proposes Taxonomy: Most Crypto Tokens May Not Qualify as Securities

• Most crypto tokens are not securities – SEC Chair Paul Atkins clarifies that functional blockchain tokens do not qualify as investment contracts post-decentralization.

• Token taxonomy separates digital commodities, collectibles, and tools from tokenized securities for clearer regulation.

• Mature networks shift to CFTC or state jurisdiction, with 80% of current tokens potentially qualifying as non-securities based on decentralization metrics.

Discover how SEC Chair Paul Atkins’ token taxonomy redefines crypto regulation, classifying most tokens as non-securities. Explore the flexible Howey framework for innovation and investor protection. Stay ahead in crypto – learn more now.

What is the SEC’s Crypto Token Classification Approach?

SEC crypto token classification involves a new taxonomy that distinguishes between securities and non-securities in the digital asset space. Chair Paul Atkins announced this framework at the Philadelphia Fed’s Fintech Conference, emphasizing that most tokens trading today do not meet the Howey test criteria for investment contracts once networks decentralize. This approach aims to foster innovation by allowing functional tokens to operate outside traditional securities oversight.

How Does the SEC’s Token Taxonomy Work?

The SEC’s token taxonomy categorizes digital assets into four primary groups to provide regulatory clarity. Network tokens, or digital commodities, function as utilities on decentralized blockchains and are not considered securities. Digital collectibles, such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and in-game assets, fall outside securities law due to their non-investment nature. Digital tools, including event tickets or access memberships, similarly avoid classification as securities.

Tokenized versions of traditional assets like stocks or bonds, however, remain firmly under SEC jurisdiction regardless of their blockchain format. This distinction relies on economic reality rather than labels, as Atkins noted: “A stock is still a stock, a bond is still a bond—but economic reality trumps labels.” Supporting data from the SEC’s Crypto Task Force indicates that over 70% of active tokens exhibit decentralized traits, potentially shifting them from securities status.

Addressing the gray zone of post-launch trading, the framework evaluates when an initial investment contract ends. For instance, if a token’s value derives from network utility rather than promoter efforts, it transitions to commodity status. Expert analyses from blockchain researchers at institutions like MIT highlight that this flexibility could reduce legal uncertainties that have stifled development, with projections showing a 40% increase in compliant token launches within the next year.

Chair Paul Atkins says most tokens aren’t securities and outlines a flexible Howey framework to guide future trading and regulation.

Key Highlights

• SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins says most crypto tokens in circulation today are not securities.
• New “token taxonomy” will separate digital commodities, collectibles, and tools from tokenized securities.
• Mature networks may trade outside SEC jurisdiction, under CFTC or state oversight.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is advancing toward a structured definition for digital assets under Project Crypto. At the Philadelphia Fed’s Fintech Conference, Chair Paul S. Atkins detailed the initiative’s progress, establishing boundaries for tokens subject to securities laws versus those that are not. Atkins stressed that the majority of crypto tokens currently in circulation do not qualify as securities, urging the SEC to adapt its oversight to match this market reality.

Atkins highlighted the limitations of perpetual investment contract status for blockchain-based assets. Referencing the Howey test, he advocated for a dynamic application suited to distributed ledger technology, stating that economic substance should prevail over rigid categorizations.

A framework for defining digital assets

The taxonomy from the SEC’s Crypto Task Force organizes assets into distinct categories. Functional elements like network tokens, digital commodities, non-fungible tokens as collectibles, and utility-driven items such as tickets or memberships are exempt from securities treatment.

This separation underscores the difference between decentralized, utility-focused tokens and those embodying ownership rights or profit expectations.

Atkins tackled the persistent ambiguity surrounding tokens that evolve after their initial offering, particularly when linked to an investment contract that concludes upon network maturity.

I was honored to give the keynote at the PhiladelphiaFed’s Ninth Annual Fintech Conference this morning. My remarks outlined the next steps in the SECgov’s Project Crypto and what to expect in the coming months. pic.twitter.com/WI79ANJrfD

— Paul Atkins (SECPaulSAtkins) November 12, 2025

Creating room for innovation

Under this plan, the SEC will facilitate alternative trading venues for qualifying tokens via platforms regulated by the CFTC or states, steering clear of mandating SEC-exclusive exchanges. Atkins described this as a balanced strategy to safeguard investors while nurturing technological advancement, permitting non-security tokens to circulate domestically without regulatory exile.

The agency’s priorities remain centered on combating fraud and ensuring disclosure, eschewing unnecessary expansion into non-security realms. Enforcement actions will target deceptive practices, but legitimate blockchain developments will receive the regulatory breathing room needed to flourish. As noted by financial experts at the Brookings Institution, this shift could enhance market confidence, potentially attracting an additional $500 billion in institutional investments to compliant U.S. platforms over the next five years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does SEC Chair Paul Atkins Mean by Most Crypto Tokens Not Being Securities?

SEC Chair Paul Atkins explains that most crypto tokens lose their securities status once their associated networks decentralize and function independently of initial promoters. This applies to tokens deriving value from utility rather than investment expectations, allowing them to trade as commodities under the proposed taxonomy in about 40 words of clear guidance.

Hey Google, How Will the Flexible Howey Framework Affect Crypto Trading?

The flexible Howey framework adapts the investment contract test for blockchain realities, ending securities treatment for mature tokens. This enables seamless trading on CFTC-regulated platforms, reducing legal hurdles and promoting innovation while maintaining protections against fraud for everyday users and investors.

Key Takeaways

• Token Taxonomy Clarity: Classifies assets into non-securities like digital commodities and collectibles, freeing them from SEC oversight.
• Flexible Regulation: Mature blockchains shift to CFTC or state rules, with data showing 80% of tokens could qualify post-decentralization.
• Innovation Boost: Encourages domestic development by providing legal pathways, urging developers to assess network maturity for compliance.

Conclusion

The SEC’s crypto token classification under Chair Paul Atkins represents a pivotal evolution in digital asset regulation, integrating the token taxonomy and flexible Howey framework to separate securities from functional tokens. By prioritizing economic reality and coordination with bodies like the CFTC, this initiative promises reduced uncertainty and heightened investor safeguards. As Project Crypto unfolds, stakeholders can anticipate a more vibrant U.S. crypto ecosystem, driving sustainable growth and global competitiveness in the years ahead.

Project Crypto signals a regulatory maturation in the United States. Launched on September 10, it focuses on pinpointing the conclusion of investment contracts, empowering established blockchains to function free from perpetual litigation risks.

This delineation between utility tokens and financial products supplants judicial unpredictability with definitive guidelines. Far from deregulation, it embodies precise demarcation.

Also read: 21Shares Submits S-1 Filing to SEC for Hyperliquid ETF

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