The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published its list of examination priorities for the 2026 fiscal year.
And for the first time in years, crypto assets are not included as a dedicated focus area.
This omission comes due to the current U.S. President, Donald Trump’s strong support for the crypto industry. Under his leadership, the sector has expanded rapidly, with Trump’s family launching ventures in trading platforms, mining operations, stablecoins, and various token projects.
The SEC’s Division of Examinations outlined its key priorities for the year ending September 30, 2026. While the document does not mention crypto or digital assets.
The agency clarified that the list is not exhaustive and that it may still review crypto-related activities when needed.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins emphasized that examinations should be collaborative rather than punitive. He said the newly released priorities are designed to help firms prepare for “constructive dialogue” with examiners and increase transparency about the division’s focus areas.
The Division of Examinations supervises a broad range of market participants, including investment advisers, broker dealers, clearing agencies, and stock exchanges, making sure they operate in line with federal securities regulations.
In contrast, last year’s list under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler specifically highlighted crypto products and activities, including spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs. At the time, the Division said it would keep a close watch on firms involved in crypto services due to the sector’s volatility.
Crypto also appeared prominently in the SEC’s 2023 priorities, which included a section dedicated to digital assets and emerging financial technology.
For 2026, however, the SEC is focusing on core regulatory areas such as fiduciary duty, custody of client assets, and protection of customer information. The agency is also increasing oversight of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and automated investment tools.
Cybersecurity continues to be a major focus for the agency. The SEC plans to pay special attention to how well firms can respond to and recover from cyber incidents, including ransomware attacks.
