SEC Crypto Safe Harbor Moves to White House Review

SEC safe harbor proposal reaches White House

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has submitted its crypto safe harbor proposal to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). OIRA is the White House body that reviews federal rules before formal publication. SEC Chair Paul Atkins confirmed the submission on 07 April 2026 at the Vanderbilt Digital Asset Summit. The proposal is at the final stage before the SEC issues an official rule.

"Such a safe harbor would provide crypto innovators bespoke pathways to raise capital in the U.S., while providing appropriate investor protections.", 17 March 2026. — Paul S. Atkins, Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Startup exemption sets conditions for fundraising

The proposal includes a startup exemption that lets crypto projects raise capital without immediate securities registration. Registration is the formal SEC process that companies normally complete before selling financial instruments to investors. Under the exemption, projects raise up to $5 million over a period of up to four years. Projects must still provide principles-based disclosures and notify the SEC. A disclosure is a document that describes a project's structure, risks, and use of funds.

Atkins outlined the framework in March 2026

Atkins first described the safe harbor framework at the DC Blockchain Summit on 17 March 2026. The SEC published a full transcript of that speech on its official website. The framework defines pathways for crypto projects to raise capital inside the United States under the proposed exemption rules.