SEC to Vote on New Crypto Offering Rules Amid CLARITY Act Delay

• The SEC will vote Friday on whether to propose tailored rules, including exemptions and safe harbors for qualifying crypto offerings.
• The proposal builds on the SEC-CFTC March interpretation while advancing Chair Paul Atkins’ broader Project Crypto agenda.
• The SEC may also unveil an innovation exemption for tokenized securities as Congress remains stalled on the CLARITY Act.

The SEC will vote Friday, August 14, on proposing new crypto rules as the Senate remains stalled on the CLARITY Act. The meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. ET in Washington, will consider a tailored offering regime for certain crypto investment contracts. SEC Chair Paul Atkins is advancing the agency’s approach while Congress remains on recess.

The proposal would create a dedicated legal route for qualifying token offerings. According to Bloomberg, the rules could include registration exemptions and safe harbors for certain token launches.

The framework would build on the SEC and CFTC’s March joint interpretation. That guidance created five token categories and addressed when crypto investment contracts begin and end.

Atkins placed the initiative under Project Crypto, the SEC’s 2026 regulatory agenda. The broader plans include token-sale exemptions, safe harbors for decentralizing projects and custody standards.

However, Friday’s vote would only consider whether to release the proposal. A vote would not make the rules effective. A successful proposal would instead open a public comment process. The SEC would then review comments before considering any final action.

The Senate entered its August recess without advancing the CLARITY Act. The legislation would divide digital asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC. Democrats blocked floor action over an ethics provision involving President Donald Trump’s crypto holdings, according to American Banker.

Republican senators Josh Hawley and Jerry Moran also raised concerns about stablecoin yield provisions. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said lawmakers will address the measure after returning. The bill still needs 60 votes to advance.

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said the SEC could introduce two major initiatives. One involves crypto offerings, while another could address tokenized securities.

The SEC is also preparing an innovation exemption for trading digital versions of securities. Bloomberg reported that details could emerge as soon as Friday. The exemption could cover tokenized stocks and blockchain-based trading.

However, people familiar with the plans said details could change before publication. CFTC Chair Michael Selig has also discussed agency action if Congress does not pass legislation. The CFTC and SEC already coordinate on digital asset regulation.

Atkins has acknowledged that agency rules lack the permanence of congressional legislation. Meanwhile, Friday’s decision will determine whether the SEC formally begins the new crypto offering rulemaking process.