The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the easing of restrictions under Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB-121), which initially required digital assets held by publicly traded companies to be included on their balance sheets. SEC Chief Accountant Paul Munter disclosed the exemptions in a speech this week, indicating a shift in the agency's stance. The decision follows a US Congress vote of 228-182. This move, revealed on Sep. 9, could potentially open the door for banks to enter the crypto market by providing digital asset custody services. The rules under SAB-121 had been widely criticized in the industry.