The US Securities and Exchange Commission has sharply scaled back its enforcement actions against the cryptocurrency industry since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Key Takeaways:
- The SEC has dropped or paused nearly 60% of crypto cases since Trump took office.
- Enforcement pullbacks include major cases against Ripple and Binance.
- The agency denies political motives, calling the shift a policy reset.
The agency has dismissed or paused close to 60% of crypto-related cases, according to a report published Sunday by The New York Times.
While enforcement activity continues across traditional markets, cases involving crypto firms have been disproportionately affected by withdrawals, pauses, or outright dismissals since January, the report said.
SEC Retreats From Ripple and Binance Cases
Among the most prominent cases cited were the SEC’s long-running lawsuits against Ripple Labs and Binance, both of which have seen significant pullbacks.
The Times also noted that the regulator is “no longer actively pursuing a single case against a firm with known Trump ties,” a detail that has intensified scrutiny of the agency’s motives.
The SEC pushed back on suggestions of political favoritism, telling the newspaper that its decisions were driven by legal and policy considerations rather than politics.
The report added that it found no evidence President Trump directly pressured the agency to abandon specific investigations.
Industry figures argue the enforcement retreat reflects a broader reassessment of the SEC’s earlier approach to crypto.
Alex Thorn, head of firmwide research at Galaxy Digital, said claims that the shift is linked to Trump’s personal interests overlook what he described as years of aggressive and inconsistent regulation.
Thorn said framing the pivot as politically motivated ignores “four years of direct attacks by the actual partisans.”
The backdrop to the enforcement slowdown includes a deepening connection between Trump-linked entities and the digital asset sector.
In 2025, projects associated with the president or his family expanded significantly, ranging from World Liberty Financial to Trump-branded crypto initiatives, including the Official Trump memecoin and American Bitcoin, a mining venture backed by the president’s sons.
Leadership Shift at SEC Looms as Final Democratic Commissioner Exits
At the same time, changes at the top of the SEC are set to further reshape the agency’s stance.
Paul Atkins, a Republican appointee seen as more receptive to market-driven regulation, is expected to remain chair for the foreseeable future. However, the commission is preparing to lose its final Democratic member.
Caroline Crenshaw, whose term officially expired in 2024, is expected to depart in January after serving an additional 18 months.
Trump has yet to announce nominees to fill her seat or another vacant Democratic position on the commission.
Crenshaw has been one of the most vocal critics of the SEC’s softer approach to crypto under the Trump administration.
In one of her final public appearances last week, she warned that easing oversight could expose markets to wider contagion risks, cautioning that reduced scrutiny may come at a cost to investor protection.
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