SEC Faces Mounting Pressure to Turn DeFi Guidance Into Formal Rules

Key Takeaways:

Over 30 crypto industry participants urged SEC to formalize DeFi guidance. Regulatory ambiguity around SEC broker rules threatens blockchain innovation. Commissioner Hester Peirce backed rulemaking to align SEC policy with DeFi.

Crypto Industry Participants Press SEC to Formalize DeFi Guidance

The crypto industry is urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to turn recent guidance on decentralized tools into formal rules, a move supporters see as positive for long-term blockchain development. On April 21, DeFi Education Fund and over 30 organizations submitted a letter backing the agency’s position on certain crypto transaction interfaces while pressing for a formal regulatory framework that would provide lasting clarity.

The coalition supported the regulator’s distinction on non-custodial tools, arguing that these interfaces serve as technical infrastructure rather than transaction intermediaries. DeFi Education Fund, a U.S.-based advocacy group, organized the response, while the other firms and organizations signed on as independent supporters. The position also aligns with Commissioner Hester Peirce’s broader push for modernized broker definitions that reflect crypto market structure. The letter stated:

“We therefore respectfully urge the Commission to build upon the Statement through notice-and-comment rulemaking.”

“Specifically, the Commission should consider adopting a principles-based framework that provides clear, objective criteria for when activity falls within the definition of ‘broker,’ iterating on the criteria in the Statement,” the letter added.

Commissioner Peirce reinforced this direction in separate remarks, calling for a permanent overhaul of broker-dealer rules to better align with decentralized technologies. She emphasized that legacy definitions risk misclassifying software providers and infrastructure participants, signaling the need for a durable framework that reflects current crypto market realities. Her position adds weight to the industry’s argument that formal rulemaking, rather than guidance, is essential for long-term regulatory clarity.

Formal Broker Framework Seen as Key to DeFi Expansion

Rulemaking is central to the group’s argument because Staff guidance does not carry the same durability as a formal rule. The letter pointed to continuing debate over how the term “broker” should apply in decentralized markets and argued that infrastructure providers, including validators, data services, and communications networks, should be distinguished from entities that actively intermediate transactions. The signatories warned that regulatory ambiguity could chill blockchain development and reduce efficient market access for investors.

The letter closed with a forward-looking appeal for a more stable, technology-neutral approach. The coalition wrote:

“We are hopeful that formalizing the principles in the Statement into a durable, technology-neutral regulatory framework would provide lasting clarity and reinforce the approach outlined by the Staff, and we look forward to providing additional, detailed commentary in the future.”

In the group’s view, codifying the SEC’s position would reduce uncertainty, limit future reinterpretation, and provide a stronger foundation for decentralized finance development.