SEC Roundtable Discussion on DeFi
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a new roundtable discussion titled “DeFi and the American Spirit,” set to take place on June 9 at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. This gathering, orchestrated by the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, marks the fifth installment in a series aimed at assessing regulatory frameworks associated with digital assets, with this session concentrating specifically on decentralized finance (DeFi).
Event Details
Commencing at 1:30 PM, the four-hour event will kick off with introductory statements from key SEC figures, including Chair Paul Atkins and Commissioner Hester Peirce, who currently heads the Task Force. Both officials have consistently advocated for a regulatory structure that fosters innovation within the DeFi realm while maintaining stringent protections for investors.
Discussion Topics
A significant segment of the event will delve into how DeFi aligns with fundamental American ideals like independence, inclusivity, and market-oriented progress. Former SEC Commissioner Troy Paredes will moderate discussions featuring leading experts from academia, legal professions, and the blockchain sector.
Expected topics of conversation will include:
- The functionality of peer-to-peer systems independent of intermediaries
- The complexities of establishing rules around smart contracts
- The pros and cons of decentralized governance
Public Participation
This session is open to the public and will be available for live-streaming via the SEC’s website. While virtual participants can join without prior registration, those wishing to attend in person will need to register ahead of time.
SEC’s Initiative for Crypto Clarity
This roundtable is part of the SEC’s initiative, “Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity,” which began in March 2025 and aims to foster dialogue with industry stakeholders to shape future regulatory guidelines. The initiative started by discussing when digital assets might be classified as securities and has continued through various topics like crypto trading regulations and asset custody. Each of these sessions has united legal experts, technology innovators, and finance professionals to explore how current regulations intersect with new blockchain technologies.
With DeFi challenging existing regulatory norms, this forthcoming roundtable is poised to be particularly significant as it seeks to assess how effectively DeFi can fit into the U.S. regulatory ecosystem without sacrificing its foundational principles of flexibility and access.
