On September 17, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) issued an order (Release No. 34-106402; File No. 4-927) granting five-year, temporary exemptive relief allowing (1) qualifying tokenized securities venues that provide innovative automated market makers (“AMMs”) and liquidity pools (together referred to as “AMM Liquidity Pools”) to facilitate trading of National Market System
Evan Eldridge
SEC Issues “Innovation Exemption” to Facilitate Trading of Tokenized NMS Stock
On September 17, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or the “SEC”) issued an exemptive order to be known as the “Innovation Exemption.” This Innovation Exemption grants temporary, conditional exemptive relief under Section 36(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for the onchain trading of tokenized National…
SEC Proposes New Regulation Crypto Assets
On August 18, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or the “SEC”) published proposed rules, titled “Regulation Crypto Assets” (“Reg Crypto Assets”), which would establish a framework to raise capital and disclosure requirements involving certain crypto asset-related investment contracts. The proposed rules represent the next phase in the Commission’s ongoing effort to regulate…
New SEC Proposed Rule: Regulation Crypto Assets
On August 18, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed rules (the “Proposal”) titled “Regulation Crypto Assets,” that, if adopted, would create a tailored offering regime for certain investment contracts involving crypto assets, defined as “covered investment contracts”. The Proposal is the next step in the SEC’s ongoing effort to create a regulatory…
SEC Conference on Emerging Asset Management Trends
On June 5th, the SEC brought together regulators, industry leaders, and experts to discuss the evolving asset management landscape at its 2025 Conference on Emerging Trends in Asset Management. This year’s event focused on the latest innovations, regulatory developments, and challenges facing the industry, with particular attention to technological advancements, shifting investor expectations, and the…
Market Trends 2024/25: Disclosure on the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
This practice note discusses the impact of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the HFCAA) on securities of foreign companies listed on U.S. exchanges and over-the-counter markets. It provides background on the HFCAA, enacted on December 18, 2020, which reinforces U.S. regulatory authority over SEC-reporting companies relying on auditors in non-U.S. jurisdictions where local authorities…
SEC to Host Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) recently announced an upcoming roundtable discussion focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) in the financial industry. Scheduled for March 27, 2025, the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the SEC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. It will be open to the public…
Sheep in the Steep?
On January 27, 2025, US Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Hester Peirce gave the keynote address at the Northwestern Securities Regulation Institute in which she offered her personal views on how public companies and, to some extent, the SEC in working with public companies might move away from “importing politics and contentious social issues” into…
Navigating the Updated SEC Rules for 10b5-1 Plans
On November 13, 2024, during the Practicing Law Institute’s 56th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation, a panel of experts discussed recent disclosure developments for public companies. The main topics of discussion included Insider Trading Policies and 10b5-1 Plans, Non-GAAP Measures, Cybersecurity, and ESG.
Navigating the Updated SEC Rules for 10b5-1 Plans
The SEC’s recent…
Market Trends 2022/23: Disclosure on the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
This practice note discusses the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the HFCAA), which affects the securities of certain foreign companies listed on U.S. markets and requires them to submit documentation and disclosures to the SEC and the PCAOB. The HFCAA aims to address the regulatory challenge posed by Chinese law that prevents the PCAOB from…

