SEC chair Gensler holds tight to his crypto position in preview of Senate testimony

United States Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Gary Gensler is scheduled to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in a hearing titled “Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission” on Sept. 15. The transcript of his speech was released in advance. 

Gensler called securities laws a “gold standard” of capital markets. In his 13-page comprehensive discussion of those markets, crypto markets took up about a page and a half, including footnotes.

Per a @BankingGOP aide on @GaryGensler Thursday hearing: "Expect @SenToomey and @BankingGOP to argue that Chairman Gensler’s pursuit of a highly politicized liberal policy agenda has distracted him from fulfilling the @SECGov core mission of protecting investors, maintaining

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) September 13, 2022

Gensler restated his belief that most cryptocurrencies are securities. Since that is so, he has asked SEC staff to “work directly with entrepreneurs to get their tokens registered and regulated, where appropriate, as securities.” He continued that many intermediaries, such as exchanges, broker-dealers, and those with custodial functions, deal in securities and should be registered with the SEC “in some capacity.” In addition, he said:

“Given the nature of crypto investments, I recognize that it may be appropriate to be flexible in applying existing disclosure requirements.”

Stablecoins, Gensler said, “may be shares of a money market fund or another kind of security,” and therefore also require registration and regulation.

Related: Sen. Lummis: My proposal with Sen. Gillibrand empowers the SEC to protect consumers

Gensler acknowledged the entry of traditional financial firms into the crypto space and said they are interested in entering “in compliance with time-tested investor protection rules,” which existing intermediaries should follow as well to ensure a level playing field. He added that he has instructed his staff to look for ways security and non-security cryptos can trade together.

Gensler noted that “crypto intermediaries may need to one day register with both the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC),” and there are already dual registrants.

Gensler’s testimony was originally scheduled for Sept. 14, but was rescheduled for the following day. Gensler will deliver his speech at roughly the same time as CFTC chairman Rostin Behnam and several representatives of the crypto industry speak before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the proposed Digital Commodities and Consumer Protection Act. That bill is seen as favorable to the CFTC in relation to the SEC.

Gensler has been repeatedly criticized both for his agency’s unhelpful approach to crypto asset regulation and for its lack of action against industry participants.