BTC and ETH Have Been Clearly Defined as Non-Securities
On March 18 at the DC Blockchain Summit 2026, SEC Chair Paul Atkins announced a new token taxonomy and investment contract interpretation framework, ending long-standing regulatory uncertainty.
The framework exempts four non-security categories: digital commodities (BTC, ETH), digital collectibles, digital tools, and payment stablecoins under the GENIUS Act. Only "digital securities" (tokenized traditional securities) fall under securities laws. Atkins emphasized that the SEC is no longer the "Securities and Everything Commission."