[U.S. SEC Chair: SEC Plans to Officially Launch 'Innovation Exemption' by Year-End or Q1 2026] According to CoinDesk, Paul Atkins, Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), stated at an event in Manhattan that the agency still aims to establish an 'innovation exemption' policy as soon as possible (potentially by the end of this quarter) for companies operating in the U.S. based on digital assets and other innovative technologies. Although the current government shutdown has constrained the SEC's ability to advance rulemaking, developing this policy remains a top priority for the agency by the end of this year or the first quarter of 2026. He mentioned that the agency intends to initiate the rulemaking process by the end of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026 and is confident in achieving this goal. Implementing formal rulemaking in the cryptocurrency sector could help move away from previous regulatory models. During the Q&A session, he noted that the exemption policy being promoted is one of the matters he hopes to finalize quickly, aiming to welcome innovators to conduct business in the U.S. Additionally, he pointed out that the government shutdown has hindered progress, causing rulemaking to be paused. He also praised Congress's efforts to pass cryptocurrency legislation, referencing the 'GENIUS Act,' but stated that the SEC has not played a major role in it.