Nickel: SEC expected to be more lenient on digital assets in the year ahead
Nickel: SEC expected to be more lenient on digital assets in the year ahead
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Institutional investors and wealth managers are expecting more lenient regulation from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the year ahead on digital assets and increased clarity, according to new global research by London-based Nickel Digital Asset Management (Nickel).
The study with organisations already invested in the sector found 68% expect more leniency from the SEC compared with 35% who expect more stringent regulation. More than half (53%) expect more increased clarity and guidance while 44% believe the regulator will be more constructive, reflecting political changes.
Nickel’s research with institutional investors and wealth managers in the US, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates who collectively manage around $1.7 trillion in assets found strong support for the SEC and recognition of its importance in the sector.
Around 90% believe the SEC has been an effective regulator of the digital assets sector and 85% say it is currently very or somewhat supportive of the sector. Just five per cent say it is not constructive or aggressively restrictive. Around four out of five (80%) believe it has been clear to distinguish between securities and non-securities in the digital asset space.
Nearly three out of four (73%) say the SEC’s recent clarifications on Security Token Offerings (STOs) has had the most impact on the sector ahead of 42% pointing to its guidelines for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs).
Around four out of five (80%) agree that regulatory clarity from the SEC is important for the sector and 83% say SEC regulatory action will have a very or somewhat positive impact on innovation in the digital asset space. However, only 35% questioned say SEC regulations have a significant impact on their investment decisions in the digital asset sector with 55% saying regulations have a moderate impact and 10% say they have a slight impact.