SEC Omits Crypto from 2026 Examination Priorities Amid Trump Embrace

Key Takeaways:

• The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has omitted its regular section on crypto assets from its examination priorities for 2026.
• This change comes amid increasing support for the crypto industry from former US President Donald Trump.
• Other SEC priorities include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and fiduciary duty.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently released its document on examination priorities for 2026, notably omitting a section on crypto assets that was present in previous years. This shift appears to align with former US President Donald Trump's increasing embrace of the industry.

The SEC’s Division of Examinations released its examination priorities for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026. The document made no specific mention of crypto or digital assets. However, the SEC clarified that these stated priorities are not “an exhaustive list of all the areas the Division will focus on in the upcoming year.”

The US crypto industry has experienced growth under Trump, who has largely advocated for deregulating the sector while his family has expanded into crypto ventures with a trading platform, mining operations, a stablecoin, and various tokens.

“Examinations are an important component to accomplishing the agency’s mission, but they should not be a ’gotcha’ exercise,” SEC Chair Paul Atkins stated. “Today’s release of examination priorities should enable firms to prepare to have a constructive dialogue with SEC examiners and provide transparency into the priorities of the agency’s most public-facing division,” he added.

The Division of Examinations is responsible for scrutinizing organizations, including investment advisors, broker-dealers, clearing agencies, and stock exchanges, to ensure compliance with federal securities laws.

Last year, under outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the Division stated it would concentrate on the “offer, sale, recommendation, advice, trading, and other activities involving crypto assets,” specifically naming spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds as a priority.

“Given the volatility and activity involving the crypto asset markets, the Division will continue to monitor and, when appropriate, conduct examinations of registrants offering crypto asset-related services,” the Division said last year.

The examination division also dedicated a section to crypto assets and emerging financial technology in its 2023 list. In its latest priorities list, the SEC stated its focus on “core areas,” including fiduciary duty, custody, and customer information protection.

The SEC's report also indicated an increased focus on “the risks associated with the use of emerging technologies,” particularly highlighting artificial intelligence and automated investment tools.

Furthermore, the report specifies that the SEC will give “particular attention” to firms’ ability to respond to and recover from cyber incidents, “including those related to ransomware attacks.”