The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly pausing certain cryptocurrency enforcement cases, prioritizing those with imminent deadlines. This explains why ongoing lawsuits against Ripple and Kraken remain active, with their next court deadlines set for April 16 and March 31, respectively. Cases involving Coinbase and Binance have later deadlines in mid-April.
Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett speculated that the SEC leadership may be awaiting confirmation of Paul Atkins, Donald Trump’s nominee for SEC chair. Trump has promised a more industry-friendly regulatory approach, reducing enforcement actions against crypto firms.
Under President Biden, the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed over 100 lawsuits against crypto companies, targeting exchanges such as Kraken and Coinbase for alleged unregistered securities operations. Ripple has been in legal disputes with the SEC since 2020 regarding its XRP token.
Since Trump’s second term began, the SEC has gradually eased enforcement efforts, with Kraken resuming staking services in January. The evolving regulatory landscape suggests a shift in U.S. crypto policy, as industry leaders await further developments.
