US acknowledges crypto delay and promises swift regulatory recovery

• US admitted historic crypto delay
• Regulation with exemptions for innovation
• Superapps as a regulatory focus

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins admitted that the United States was "probably ten years behind" in the cryptocurrency market during a recent address to industry leaders. He stated that innovation largely migrated overseas while the country languished in regulatory hesitation. Now, his priority is to rebuild American credibility in digital assets.

"The US is probably ten years late to this party," Atkins stated, acknowledging that many projects have ended up seeking jurisdictions like Singapore or Dubai. To reverse this situation, he wants to transform the SEC into a platform for encouragement, not an obstacle. The emphasis should shift from punitive oversight to growth-oriented supervision.

According to the agency's chief, a modernized framework is underway to integrate cryptocurrencies and fintechs into the regulatory system. Rather than requiring full compliance outright, the SEC intends to offer controlled exemptions that allow startups to test innovative models without automatically falling under the security classification.

For Atkins, these measures are equivalent to "welcoming innovators" to American soil, after so much capital flight. The central idea is to allow projects to experiment under lighter supervision, without triggering severe regulatory sanctions from the outset.

Another point raised was the interest in "super apps"—ecosystems that bring together payments, investments, and banking services in a single environment. Inspired by the Asian model, these systems could migrate to the US market if regulatory barriers are reduced, integrating different financial functions under a single regulatory umbrella.

Atkins suggested that regulators adopt a model inspired by these ecosystems, with digital coordination between agencies, to make the regulatory process faster and more transparent. This shift in approach reflects the more collaborative tone the SEC has adopted since the departure of former Chairman Gary Gensler.

The agency's new leader's comments reflect a strategic shift in the Trump administration's approach, which now aims to reposition the US as a breeding ground for blockchain and crypto innovation. By acknowledging the failures of the last decade, Atkins paved the way for a new chapter in which the agency seeks to lead—rather than stifle—the development of cryptocurrencies.