SEC to Host Decisive Roundtable on Crypto Trading Regulation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is ramping up its crypto oversight efforts with a high-profile roundtable scheduled for April 11, 2025. Titled “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading”, the session will bring together key figures from major crypto and traditional finance institutions to evaluate how digital asset trading should be regulated in the United States.

Contents

According to sources, this event will be the second webinar in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s “Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity” series, a five-part initiative launched by the agency’s Crypto Task Force to refine its evolving stance on digital assets. Following March’s session that focused on the legal framework for crypto classification, the April roundtable aims to address core questions around market structure, trading compliance, and regulatory gaps in the crypto ecosystem.

Major Industry Players to Join the SEC’s Regulatory Dialogue

The lineup of confirmed participants includes senior executives from some of the most influential companies in the crypto and financial sectors. Representing decentralized finance (DeFi) is Uniswap Labs’ Chief Legal Officer, Katherine Minarik. Coinbase, one of the largest U.S.-regulated crypto exchanges, will be represented by Gregory Tusar, Vice President of Institutional Product. Also joining the discussion is Chelsea Pizzola, Associate General Counsel at Cumberland DRW, a leading crypto trading firm.

Other attendees include Jon Herrick from the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Johnson from Texture Capital, and Austin Reid of FalconX. These institutions bring both centralized and decentralized trading perspectives to the table, offering a well-rounded discourse on how digital asset trading should evolve under regulatory scrutiny.

Notably, several of these firms were previously subject to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigations or legal action that were later withdrawn under the Trump administration’s revised approach to crypto regulation.

Government and Academic Experts Round Out the Dialogue

Alongside industry representatives, key government officials and academic leaders are expected to provide insight during the roundtable. The commission’s Acting Chair, Mark Uyeda, and Commissioners Caroline Crenshaw and Hester Peirce will participate directly. They will be joined by Richard Gabbert, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Crypto Task Force, whose team is leading the Spring Sprint initiative.

The discussion will be moderated by Nicholas Losurdo, a partner at Goodwin Procter LLP and former counsel to SEC Commissioner Elad Roisman. Academic and policy-oriented voices include Christine Parlour, Chair of Finance and Accounting at UC Berkeley, and Tyler Gellasch, CEO of the Healthy Markets Association. Dave Lauer, Co-founder of Urvin Finance and We the Investors will also contribute to the debate, bringing investor protection and fairness to the forefront of the conversation.

Market Impact: Building Clarity in a Shifting Regulatory Landscape

While the commission’s roundtable does not establish direct policy changes, it signals a continuing shift in how regulators approach the fast-moving digital asset space. Market participants will be watching closely for takeaways that may influence future enforcement actions or regulatory proposals.

The agency’s acknowledgment that staff-level crypto guidance is under review further suggests potential reversals or refinements in earlier SEC interpretations, especially those applied during the previous administration. According to official SEC communications, outdated or conflicting statements may soon be withdrawn or amended to reflect the current administration’s regulatory philosophy better.

This proactive approach reflects growing pressure from lawmakers and stakeholders to strike a balance between investor protection and innovation. With decentralized finance and tokenized markets growing in complexity, the outcome of these discussions may shape the crypto industry’s path for years to come.

Conclusion

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission upcoming April 11 roundtable represents an important moment in the United States’ evolving crypto regulatory landscape. By convening both centralized and decentralized trading leaders, traditional financial institutions, legal experts, and government representatives, the agency is fostering a more inclusive and structured conversation around the future of digital asset trading.

While immediate changes may not be announced, the themes explored, ranging from market fairness and compliance to decentralized exchange governance, are likely to guide future rulemaking and legislative debate. As the Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity continues, market participants and observers alike will be looking to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for signals on what the future holds for crypto regulation in the U.S.

FAQs

What is the goal of the SEC’s April 11 crypto roundtable?
The roundtable aims to explore regulatory challenges and opportunities in cryptocurrency trading, with input from key industry players and legal experts.

Who will attend the roundtable?
Representatives from Uniswap, Coinbase, Cumberland DRW, NYSE, Texture Capital, the SEC, and leading academics are among the confirmed participants.

Is this part of a larger initiative by the Commission?
Yes, it is part of the Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity, five public webinars hosted by the SEC’s Crypto Task Force to assess and improve crypto regulation.

Will this event lead to immediate regulatory changes?
While no direct policy is expected to be announced dur