SEC Chair Atkins Says Ether Falls Outside Securities Rules

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins said on Monday that Ether, the native token of the Ethereum blockchain, “is not a security,” clarifying the agency’s view on the second-largest cryptocurrency by market value. The statement removes a major source of regulatory uncertainty for developers, exchanges and institutional investors that handle Ether. Classifying the token outside the securities framework means issuers and trading platforms are unlikely to face the registration and disclosure requirements that apply to stocks and bonds. Atkins’ position comes after years of debate within the SEC and the broader crypto industry over whether certain digital assets fall under the commission’s jurisdiction. The comment contrasts with the agency’s ongoing enforcement actions involving other tokens it alleges are unregistered securities and may influence pending court cases and legislative proposals aimed at defining the regulatory perimeter for cryptocurrencies.