The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold its fifth and final spring roundtable on crypto rules on June 9, focusing on DeFi (decentralized finance) and how it matches American values like freedom and new ideas.
The session, which is identified as “DeFi and the American Spirit,” will take place at the SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with people attending both in person and online via livestream.
SEC hosts last roundtable to discuss how DeFi fits US laws
The SEC will hold the final roundtable in its “Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity” series to provide clearer rules and guidance for the cryptocurrency market and DeFi.
This session will discuss how DeFi can fit within the United States legal system, which requires accountability and investor protection yet operates without central control.
The Chief of Staff for the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, Richard B. Gabbert, will speak first to set the stage for the discussions ahead. The SEC Chair, Paul Atkins, will then address attendees along with Commissioners Caroline A. Crenshaw and Mark Uyeda.
The meeting will also highlight remarks from the Crypto Task Force lead and DeFi advocate Commissioner Hester Peirce, who supports regulating DeFi without imposing unnecessary restrictions.
Earlier roundtables discussed how digital assets qualify as securities to determine whether they must follow strict federal securities laws. The SEC also held sessions on regulating cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms to make them safer and more transparent for investors. Another roundtable addressed custody regulations for digital assets concerning theft or loss and the tokenization of traditional financial instruments.
Experts and attendees explain how DeFi runs without middlemen
Former SEC Commissioner Troy Paredes will moderate the roundtable session on June 9 as they explore how DeFi operates without middlemen such as banks or brokers.
Panelists will discuss how peer-to-peer protocols allow users to lend, borrow, or trade assets directly with one another without intermediaries and the challenges of regulating smart contracts.
Smart contracts are hard for legislators to regulate; they run autonomously and can be used to enable fraud.
The panel will include a conversation about the risks and benefits of decentralized governance, in which decisions are made by those involved rather than by a higher authority. This system raises questions about accountability, transparency, and responding quickly to problems or abuses.
The discussions will explore whether DeFi reflects American values of unrestricted participation, open access, and the continued pursuit of innovation, as anyone with internet access can join without permission. They will also explore how regulators can protect investors’ trust in the system without stifling creativity or excluding new entrants.
The panel will combine legal, academic, and blockchain industry experts, such as Espresso Systems’ Jill Gunter, with her knowledge of privacy and security in decentralized networks and Michael Jordan (DBA) with insights into blockchain technology’s practical applications.
Many other panelists are involved, and together, they bring a well-rounded discussion on technical, legal, economic, and social aspects of DeFi.
The panel discussion will transition into a town hall session where in-person attendees can engage the panelists directly. At the same time, live streamers can email their questions in real-time.
The town hall will gather viewpoints from users, developers, investors, and other members of the public before the SEC makes any formal policy changes related to DeFi.
Commissioner Hester Peirce will make the final remarks and stress the importance of maintaining an open conversation between regulators, industry leaders, and the public. Her final comments will highlight the SEC’s ongoing commitment to supporting new technologies like DeFi in a way that balances freedom and responsibility.
* The content presented above, whether from a third party or not, is considered as general advice only. This article should not be construed as containing investment advice, investment recommendations, an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments.
