The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will host four more crypto roundtables in the coming months, with each event focused on key aspects of the cryptocurrency industry. The agency announced the schedule on March 25, continuing what Commissioner Hester Peirce has called a “Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity.”
The series of discussions will begin on April 11 with a roundtable titled “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading.” This first event will examine how regulations can be adapted to the unique characteristics of cryptocurrency markets.
The second roundtable is scheduled for April 25 and will focus on crypto custody with the theme “Know Your Custodian: Key Considerations for Crypto Custody.” This session will likely address how crypto assets should be stored and protected.
On May 12, the SEC will host a roundtable on tokenization titled “Tokenization – Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet.” This discussion will explore how traditional assets can be represented and traded on blockchain networks.
The final roundtable in the series, set for June 6, will tackle decentralized finance under the theme “DeFi and the American Spirit.” This event will examine the growing sector of blockchain-based financial services that operate without central intermediaries.
These upcoming roundtables follow the first such event held on March 27, which discussed the security status of tokens. That initial meeting brought together industry lawyers to address one of the most contested areas of crypto regulation.
Join us on March 27 for a roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence in the financial industry. Topics include the risks, benefits, and governance of AI.
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— U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (@SECGov) March 25, 2025
The roundtables are organized by the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, which was established on January 21 by Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda. The task force aims to create a workable framework for cryptocurrency regulation.
Commissioner Hester Peirce, who leads the task force, emphasized the value of these discussions. “The Crypto Task Force roundtables are an opportunity for us to hear a lively discussion among experts about what the regulatory issues are and what the Commission can do to solve them,” she said in the announcement.
All four roundtables will be open to the public, with options to attend in person at the SEC headquarters in Washington, DC, or to watch online. The agency has not yet announced the specific agendas or speakers for each event.
From Enforcement to Collaboration
The roundtable series marks a clear shift in the SEC’s approach to cryptocurrency under the new administration. Under former Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC took what many in the industry viewed as a hardline stance toward crypto companies.
The agency has recently dismissed some enforcement actions against crypto firms that were initiated during Gensler’s tenure. This change in direction comes as part of a broader review of crypto policies.
Acting Chair Uyeda has also indicated plans to scrap a rule proposed during the Biden administration that would tighten crypto custody standards for investment advisers. He announced this intention on March 17, further showing the agency’s new direction.
In a March 10 speech, Uyeda mentioned he had asked SEC staff to explore options for abandoning parts of proposed changes that would expand regulation of alternative trading systems to include crypto firms. These changes would have required such firms to register as exchanges.
The SEC’s changing approach to crypto regulation comes during the early months of the Trump administration. Industry observers have noted that the agency seems to be taking a more collaborative approach with the crypto sector.
Anyone interested in being considered as a panelist for the upcoming roundtables can email the SEC’s Crypto Task Force. The agency notes that due to expected demand, not all requests can be accommodated.
In addition to the crypto roundtables, the SEC will also host a discussion about artificial intelligence in the financial industry on March 27. This event will explore the risks, benefits, and governance of AI, with Uyeda, Peirce, and Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw scheduled to speak.