SEC’s New Crypto Task Force to Tour U.S. for Startup Feedback

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is launching a nationwide outreach initiative through its newly formed Crypto Task Force, aimed at engaging small cryptocurrency startups in regulatory discussions.

Led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, the task force will travel to 10 U.S. cities from August to December, including Berkeley, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, and New York. The meetings are designed for early-stage crypto projects with fewer than 10 employees and under two years of operation, giving them an opportunity to share insights and concerns directly with regulators.

Peirce emphasized the importance of inclusive policymaking, noting that many smaller players were unable to attend the agency’s previous roundtables held in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. “Any regulatory framework we establish will have far-reaching consequences,” she said, underscoring the need for broad industry input.

The Crypto Task Force was established in January under acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda to address the need for clearer rules in the rapidly evolving digital asset sector. The initiative reflects the SEC’s increasing focus on balancing investor protection with fostering innovation, particularly as startups play a critical role in blockchain and crypto development.

By conducting in-person meetings across the country, the task force aims to gather diverse perspectives from emerging projects that might otherwise lack access to regulatory channels. This effort could influence how future crypto policies are shaped amid growing calls for transparency and fairness in the U.S. crypto regulatory landscape.

The tour signals a potential shift toward more collaborative engagement between regulators and startups, a move that may shape the next phase of cryptocurrency regulation in the United States.