The New SEC Agenda: A Summary

Chairman Paul S. Atkins has launched a broad philosophical shift at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), directing the agency toward cutting red tape, maximizing capital formation, and embracing technological innovation. The following summarizes SEC initiatives now underway.

1.  Regulatory Direction

 At the SEC Speaks Conference (March 2026) and in public remarks throughout 2026, Chairman Atkins has expressed the following change in direction for the agency:

The “A-C-T” Strategy

 This three-part framework is now applied to the agency’s rules and actions:

1. Advance: Modernizing SEC rules to provide clear, fit-for-purpose rules for emerging technologies — including digital assets and distributed ledger technology — to keep U.S. markets competitive rather than impeding innovation.