#SEC Chair: Bitcoin, Ethereum Not Securities#

SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a recent interview with Yahoo Finance that the SEC “never said” that Bitcoin and Ethereum are securities. He emphasized that neither he nor his predecessor Jay Clayton had classified Bitcoin as a security. This statement contrasts sharply with the SEC’s previous regulatory stance toward the cryptocurrency industry. Previously, the SEC had taken a cautious approach to the cryptocurrency industry and had investigated many cryptocurrency projects, even bringing securities fraud charges against some. Gensler’s latest statement seems to indicate a shift in the SEC’s stance on Bitcoin and Ethereum, but further details remain to be seen. It is worth noting that although Gensler denied that the SEC classified Bitcoin and Ethereum as securities, the SEC has not explicitly stated that the two cryptocurrencies are not securities. Therefore, the cryptocurrency industry still needs to closely monitor the SEC’s subsequent actions to understand its regulatory policy direction on cryptocurrencies.