- SEC’s Crypto Task Force begins a “Crypto on the Road” tour to hear from small crypto startups.
- The roundtables will take place across 10 U.S. cities between August and December 2025.
- SEC forms an AI Task Force under Project Crypto to improve operations and explore AI policy.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a nationwide initiative to gather feedback from crypto entrepreneurs. This new engagement series will run from August 4 to December 5, with roundtable events hosted in ten cities. The outreach program is part of “Project Crypto,” a broader effort to align U.S. financial markets with blockchain technology.
Commissioner Hester Peirce will lead the sessions. She said the initiative aims to include participants who were unable to attend the earlier Washington, D.C., meetings held in spring. The SEC will prioritize voices from Web3 startups with fewer than ten employees and operating for less than two years.
Crypto Task Force Roadshow to Hear Underserved Voices
The SEC’s Crypto Task Force will visit cities including Berkeley, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, New York City, Irvine, Cleveland, Scottsdale, and Ann Arbor. According to the Commission’s statement, the series seeks to offer “additional stakeholders” a platform to engage directly with Commissioner Peirce and her team.
These roundtables follow a previous series held in Washington, D.C., which involved major institutional players such as BlackRock and Fidelity. The upcoming events, however, will shift focus to smaller startups. Interested participants must submit a request to SEC’s Crypto Task Force in an email with the subject, “Crypto on the Road.” The email should include the city of interest, a brief project description, and attendee names.
Commissioner Peirce emphasized the long-term implications of any crypto regulatory framework. She stated that the task force is “acutely aware” of the wide-reaching effects of crypto rules and intends to ensure outreach covers all segments of the ecosystem. Projects selected to participate will be listed publicly to maintain transparency.
Furthermore, the shift toward direct community engagement may help rebuild trust following years of tension between regulators and crypto firms. Many in the industry have criticized past SEC practices, including regulation by enforcement, for driving innovation offshore.
Project Crypto Aims to Modernize U.S. Markets
This new roundtable series coincides with the launch of “Project Crypto,” a Commission-wide initiative to transition U.S. capital markets to an on-chain structure. SEC Chair Paul Atkins introduced the program as a major step toward establishing the U.S. as a global leader in blockchain innovation. The effort also aligns with President Trump’s stated goal to make the country the “crypto capital of the world.”
Project Crypto includes proposals for updated classification rules, on-chain asset trading, and streamlined registration paths. The initiative also plans to address legacy regulatory barriers that have pushed crypto innovation overseas. According to the Commission, new rules will clearly distinguish between securities and non-securities, offering tailored disclosure frameworks and practical registration procedures.
Atkins directed SEC policy divisions to draft simple regulatory frameworks for areas such as crypto asset custody, trading, and tokenized securities. He also noted the need to recognize rights to self-custody and consider broader licensing options on platforms that relate to a variety of asset classes, such as digital assets and traditional securities.
Related: SEC Eyes Ethereum Staking in ETFs After In-Kind Approval
AI Task Force Formed Alongside Blockchain Outreach
In addition to Project Crypto and the roundtable tour, the SEC has formed a new AI Task Force. This working group will focus on improving internal Commission operations with the use of artificial intelligence tools. Valerie Szczepanik, a blockchain veteran, has been named the SEC’s Chief AI Officer and will lead the task force.
Though not tied directly to crypto policymaking, the AI Task Force may evolve to influence broader regulatory discussions. According to SEC Chair Atkins, the team’s goal is to “augment staff capacity, accelerate innovation, and enhance efficiency.”
