SEC's Spring 2026 Regulatory Agenda Prioritizes Crypto Assets and Securities Law Modernization

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has released the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Spring 2026 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, outlining an ambitious rulemaking program focused on crypto assets, public-market participation, private-market access, and modernization of the federal securities law framework. Crypto assets are prominently featured, with proposed rules including those on Crypto Assets, Crypto Market Structure Amendments, and amendments to broker-dealer financial responsibility, recordkeeping, and reporting rules related to crypto activities.

The crypto-focused initiatives aim to establish a more comprehensive framework for securities-related crypto activity. These proposals are consistent with statements from SEC Chairman Atkins, including references to “Project Crypto” and his emphasis on providing clearer guidance to market participants rather than relying on “regulation by enforcement.”

Additional proposals target reforms in the offering and reporting framework, such as Registered Offerings Reform, Updating the Exempt Offering Pathways, Enhancement of Emerging Growth Company Accommodations and Simplification of Filer Status for Reporting Companies, Foreign Private Issuer Eligibility Enhancements, and Rationalization of Disclosure Practices. Disclosure-focused rules include Semiannual Reporting, Executive Compensation Disclosure Reform, Shareholder Proposal Modernization, Amendments to Certain Proxy Rules, and the formal rescission of the SEC’s climate-related disclosure rules.

One key proposal, Enhancing Retail Exposure to Private Markets, seeks to implement Chairman Atkins’ objective of expanding access to private-market opportunities beyond wealthy investors, while incorporating appropriate safeguards.