SEC unveils crypto regulation framework, impacting Bitcoin outlook

The SEC released a comprehensive crypto regulation framework clarifying how securities laws apply to digital assets and market participants. It tightens criteria for when tokens qualify as securities and sets clearer registration, custody, and surveillance expectations for exchanges and intermediaries, signaling tougher enforcement. The framework does not reclassify Bitcoin as a security, but stricter rules for trading platforms and custodians could raise compliance costs and operational constraints in the near term while potentially increasing institutional confidence over time.