The U.S. SEC may soon ease the regulatory burden on decentralized finance platforms as Chairman Paul Atkins outlines a potential “innovation exemption” aimed at protecting developers and enabling new blockchain-based systems to thrive. In the final session of a five-part crypto roundtable series, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins signaled a notable shift in regulatory tone, especially regarding decentralized finance (DeFi). Atkins said he has directed SEC staff to explore exemptions or guidance that would let DeFi platforms operate with fewer barriers. The proposal seeks to support on-chain financial systems and reflect the technological shift toward decentralized models. He emphasized that this principle should not vanish online, especially in a financial ecosystem increasingly powered by decentralized technologies. The comments mark a stark contrast with previous SEC leadership, which leaned heavily on enforcement and broad interpretations of securities laws. He rejected the notion that writing code constitutes a regulated activity if that code enables financial transactions. Commissioner Hester Peirce echoed this view, warning against infringing on First Amendment rights. Atkins called for reevaluating legacy frameworks and asked staff to assess whether new guidance or rulemaking would help entities interact with DeFi tools while remaining compliant.