SEC’s Paul Atkins: Ethereum and DeFi Align with American Values

Here is the translation of the questions asked: - Paul Atkins, SEC Chairman, Speaks in Support of Ethereum and DeFi - Mining, Staking, and Self-Custody Not Considered Securities [Unblock Media] On June 10, 2025, the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) Chairman, Paul Atkins, made significant comments related to cryptocurrency policy vision, particularly around DeFi (Decentralized Finance) and Ethereum. Atkins stated, “Mining, validation, and staking services should not be considered securities transactions” and mentioned that “DeFi symbolizes the American spirit: economic liberty, property rights, and open innovation.” Chairman Atkins explicitly linked Ethereum’s decentralized architecture with American constitutional values for the first time. He noted that “posting staking codes or wallet software is not an intermediary activity," highlighting the chilling effect that previous regulatory enforcement actions had on developers. Collapse of CeFi and Resilience of DeFi Atkins directly criticized the failures of Centralized Finance (CeFi) and highlighted the continued functionality of decentralized protocols in contrast to the failures of major custodial platforms. He remarked, “DeFi protocols did not blow up. CeFi did,” pointing out that Ethereum could handle transactions and smart contracts amid market volatility. He argued for moving away from applying a “1930s framework” to today’s programmable financial landscape. Transition to Formal Regulation Atkins is pushing SEC staff to draft the following rules: Legal support for companies to integrate with DeFi protocols * Allowing on-chain issuance, settlement, and clearing Building paths for legitimate self-custody market infrastructure These proposals signal a shift from opaque guidance to explicitly stated legal clarity. Promoting an Innovation Exemption Program? Most notably, Atkins proposed the concept of an “innovation exemption.” This means a legal fast track that allows DeFi projects to launch and operate while formal regulations are being developed. Industry leaders view this as a “massive unlock,” predicting accelerated U.S.-based Web3 development. Impact on Ethereum Atkins’ statements effectively remove regulatory uncertainty around Ethereum’s core mechanisms, particularly proof-of-stake (PoS) validation and open-source development. If these changes are adopted into policy, they would provide the most DeFi-friendly legal framework to date, in stark contrast to previous government enforcement-centric approaches. Ethereum enthusiast Eric Conner stated, “If this becomes policy, the U.S. will become the world's cryptocurrency hub.” Market Reaction This announcement has elicited an optimistic response from the DeFi ecosystem. Staking-related tokens like Lido (LDO) and Rocket Pool (RPL) surged 8-12% on the day following Connor’s post. Analysts predict continuous upward pressure as regulatory clarity draws institutional interest.