SEC holds primary responsibility for enforcing the federal securities laws and regulating the securities industry in the United States.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government. The SEC holds primary responsibility for enforcing the federal securities laws, proposing securities rules, and regulating the securities industry, the nation’s stock and options exchanges, and other activities and organizations, including the electronic securities markets in the United States.
In addition to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which created it, the SEC enforces the Securities Act of 1933, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, and other statutes. The SEC was created by Section 4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933 (now codified as 15 U.S.C. § 78d and commonly referred to as the Exchange Act or the 1934 Act).
Paul Atkins said that the SEC will unveil the ‘Innovation Exemption’ for crypto firms starting in January next year.
SEC’s 2026 exam priorities drop the crypto section, shifting focus to cybersecurity, AI risks, fiduciary duty, and new Reg S-P rules.
The SEC has temporarily halted trading of crypto treasury firm Nasdaq-listed QMMM Holdings after the stock surged 1,000% in less than three weeks.