In a critical week for the cryptocurrency industry, following the delayed markup of the Crypto Market Structure bill (CLARITY Act), House Democrats are calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair, Paul Atkins, to reinstate enforcement actions against crypto firms.
The letter, dated January 15, was signed by Representatives Maxine Waters, Sean Casten, and Brad Sherman, who expressed concerns regarding the SEC’s recent retreat to investigate and prosecute alleged violations related to “digital asset securities.”
House Democrats’ Allegations
The representatives highlighted that since January 2025, the SEC has dismissed or closed more than a dozen cases involving crypto-related activities, including litigations against major players like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. Just this week, the SEC also closed its case against the Zcash Foundation.
In their letter, the lawmakers alleged that given the industry’s “troubling history of harming investors,” the SEC’s decision to pull back raises serious questions about its priorities and effectiveness. They warned that this shift puts both investors and the broader US economy at considerable risk.
Moreover, the representatives highlighted unprecedented lobbying and monetary contributions to political figures, including President Trump and his associates, from the digital asset sector. They pointed out that this could have influenced the SEC’s decision to abandon a majority of its crypto enforcement actions.
Alleged Conflicts Of Interest Between Trump And Crypto
These concerns follows months of allegations from the Democratic Party suggesting conflicts of interest between the Trump administration and the crypto industry, particularly highlighted by last year’s pardon for former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and connections to the Trump-affiliated World Liberty Financial (WLFI).
According to the lawmakers, the SEC’s choice to walk away from these enforcement cases has raised suspicions of a possible pay-to-play dynamic. They argued that allowing violators of securities laws to escape without repercussions contradicts the SEC’s primary responsibility.
Furthermore, the Representatives claim that recent statements by Chair Atkins, who said that ‘most crypto tokens are not securities’, have caused confusion.
The Democrats further pointed out that this lack of enforcement against digital assets leaves investors “vulnerable” and allegedly fails to protect them from potential violations in the market.
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