What is the Crypto Regulation Roundtable?

Much anticipation has been built around whether the Trump administration will fulfill its commitment to be crypto-friendly — with tangible actions as well as words. Is the SEC’s Crypto Regulation Roundtable the fruition of this promise? This guide explains what the Crypto Regulation Roundtable is, what the SEC Crypto Task Force is, and why it matters.

What is the Crypto Taskforce Roundtable?

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Crypto Task Force will hold several roundtables to address significant regulatory issues related to crypto assets. The events aim to reassess crypto regulations in the United States and provide clarity around whether decentralized digital assets are classified as securities or commodities.

The first roundtable in the “Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity” series, “How We Got Here and How We Get Out – Defining Security Status,” will take place on March 21, 2025. The event opens to the public and will take place at the SEC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET.

With President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto approach, the current SEC is taking a more engaged and constructive regulatory stance.

What is the SEC Crypto Task Force?

Acting Chairman Mark T. Uyeda created the SEC Crypto Task Force on Jan. 21, 2025, for the sole purpose of developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets. Commissioner Hester Pierce leads the operation.

“As the Task Force works to help develop this regulatory framework, it will give careful consideration to antifraud protections. If the Commission spots fraud that lies outside our jurisdiction, it can refer the matter to a sister regulator. If it does not fall within any regulator’s jurisdiction, the Commission can bring that gap to Congress’s attention.,”

Commissioner Pierce in The Journey Begins.

Richard Gabbert (Senior Advisor to the Acting Chairman) and Taylor Asher (Senior Policy Advisor to the Acting Chairman) will act as the Chief of Staff and Chief Policy Advisor, respectively.

Crypto Regulation Roundtable speakers

Founder of Paredes Strategies LLC, Troy Paredes, will moderate the event. Some of the speakers include a mix of managing partners, general counsels, law professors, and industry experts from various sectors of crypto.

• Collins Belton (Managing Partner, Brookwood P.C.)
• Sarah Brennan (General Counsel, Delphi Ventures)
• Chris Brummer (Professor of Financial Technology, Georgetown Law)
• Lewis Cohen (Co-Chair, CahillNXT)
• Coy Garrison (Partner, Steptoe)
• Teresa Goody Guillen (Partner, BakerHostetler)
• Miles Jennings (General Counsel, a16z crypto)
• Lee Reiners (Lecturing Fellow, Duke Financial Economic Center, and Duke Law)
• Benjamin Schiffrin (Director of Securities Policy, Better Markets)
• Rodrigo Seira (Special Counsel, Cooley LLP)
• John Reed Stark (Founder, John Reed Stark Consulting LLC)

Goals of the Crypto Regulation Roundtable

It is likely discussions will cover a number of the priorities the SEC has been tasked with addressing, such as:

• Clarifying the status of different types of crypto assets under securities laws.
• Identifying areas within and outside of the SEC’s jurisdiction.
• Developing modified paths to registration for crypto companies.
• Updating guidance for special purpose broker-dealers and crypto custody.

People have expressed mixed expectations regarding the sessions. Some expect a similar outcome to the White House Digital Assets Summit, in which the publicly available livestream lasted only about 20 minutes despite being four hours long, leaving much to be desired.

Others are optimistic and expect the speakers to address topics such as stablecoins, real-world assets, investor protections, compliance, and more.

Why the Crypto Task Force Roundtable matters

Rarely do governmental regulatory bodies openly consult the public on policy decisions. Such discussions are typically dominated by lobbyists representing corporations or special interest groups.

Additionally, given its global financial influence, the U.S. could establish a global standard for crypto policy by imposing a hard line, prompting other nations to follow.

Setting the stage for crypto regulation

The Crypto Taskforce Roundtable is poised to be the catalyst for meaningful change in the crypto industry in the U.S. This could result in network effects that matriculate throughout the world. Moreover, the Task Force’s commitment to openness and public participation represents a vital shift toward transparent governance. This approach could set the stage not only for clarity in crypto regulation but also for the modern financial future.