Crypto markets may still have considerable upside, as investors appear to be underestimating the U.S. SEC’s evolving stance on blockchain technology and digital assets . That’s the view of Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, who said on Tuesday that recent remarks by SEC Chair Paul Atkins signal a potential sea change. In a speech delivered on July 31 at the America First Policy Institute, Atkins outlined a vision for integrating blockchain into traditional finance, suggesting that clear and supportive regulation is on the way. Hougan described the speech as “the most bullish document I’ve read on crypto,” adding, “It wasn’t written by some yahoo on Twitter. It was written by the chairman of the SEC.” A Surprisingly Crypto-Friendly Turn from the SEC Since the election of the U.S. President Donald Trump, crypto markets have gained momentum, with Bitcoin hitting all-time highs following the resignation of former SEC chair Gary Gensler. After Atkins assumed office on April 21 , the agency dismissed several enforcement actions and launched “Project Crypto,” an initiative aimed at establishing comprehensive crypto regulations. Still, Hougan believes the market hasn’t yet fully absorbed the significance of these changes. “If it wasn’t priced in for me, I’m going to guess it wasn’t priced in for others,” he said. Blockchains, Super Apps, and the Path Ahead In his speech, Atkins stressed that while regulation is necessary, it must not hinder innovation. He laid out a blueprint for supporting onchain financial markets, encouraging policies that align with crypto’s core values of openness and decentralization. Hougan noted, “It’s like he took all the best ideas from the crypto space and showed how the SEC could help implement them.” Atkins also discussed the future of financial infrastructure, forecasting a world where all assets—stocks, bonds, even currencies—are traded on public blockchains. According to Hougan, this shift could drive major growth in the sector: “If substantially all assets are going to move onto public blockchains, you want exposure to those blockchains.” Another focal point was the rise of “super apps,” platforms that combine multiple financial services—an area already being explored by Coinbase and Robinhood. Atkins also acknowledged the importance of decentralized finance (DeFi), suggesting that it will play a significant role under the SEC’s new, more accommodating approach. The post Bitwise CIO: Market May Be Underestimating SEC’s Bullish Shift on Crypto appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .
