SEC proposes crypto investment-contract framework with new exemptions
US regulators have unveiled proposed rules intended to ease registration requirements for certain crypto investment contracts and provide a conditional safe harbor from securities definitions.
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced proposed rules that it says would establish a clear and fit-for-purpose framework for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets.
The proposal follows the SEC’s March 2026 interpretation clarifying how federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets. The regulator said the changes target long-standing barriers to capital formation and innovation in US crypto markets.
Key elements include:
- Two exemptions from Securities Act of 1933 registration requirements tailored to certain crypto investment contracts.
- A conditional safe harbor from the term “investment contract” in the definitions of “security” under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The announcement describes the proposal as part of a framework for broader crypto adoption, though the rules remain in proposed form.
Source: The Kobeissi Letter