Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has publicly declared June 9 as “DeFi Day,” marking it as a historic turning point for the decentralized finance industry.
His statement comes in response to a significant policy-focused event hosted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Crypto Working Group.
The roundtable, titled “DeFi and the American Spirit,” signaled an unusual moment of alignment between U.S. regulators and the core values of decentralized technology.
Zhao’s proclamation underscores how central the date may become in the broader DeFi narrative, particularly as regulatory discussions take on more nuanced, constructive tones.
U.S. SEC Chairman Emphasizes Alignment Between DeFi and American Values
During the roundtable, U.S. SEC Chairman Atkins opened with a strong endorsement of decentralized finance as being rooted in American ideals.
He stated that “economic freedom, private property rights, and innovation” are not only core national values but also the foundational principles of the DeFi movement.
The framing suggests a significant shift from the more combative tone seen in previous SEC leadership.
Chairman Atkins also stressed that developers of neutral or open-source DeFi tools should not be held accountable for the independent actions of third-party users.
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SEC Communications Reveal a Willingness to Rethink Crypto Oversight
In a series of official posts, the SEC acknowledged prior regulatory approaches had discouraged blockchain participation.
The current administration appears to be taking a more adaptive stance, suggesting that voluntary participation in networks, whether through mining, validating, or staking-as-a-service, does not constitute a securities transaction under existing law.
However, the SEC cautioned that this interpretation is not yet legally binding.
To provide legal clarity, Chairman Atkins advocated for the introduction of a formal regulatory framework.
The development highlights the need to move beyond informal staff guidance toward duly promulgated rules with enforceable authority.
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Potential Regulatory Shifts Aim to Embrace On-Chain Innovation
Looking ahead, the SEC signaled interest in creating flexible, innovation-friendly policies for DeFi participants.
Chairman Atkins mentioned his support for greater self-custody options and reduced reliance on intermediaries, particularly where it limits access to staking and on-chain financial tools.
He proposed a conditional exemptive relief framework, termed an “innovation exemption”, that could allow faster deployment of decentralized products under defined compliance conditions.
Such an exemption, he suggested, would fulfill the vision of making the U.S. the global leader in crypto innovation.
The evolving stance suggests that U.S. regulators are now seriously exploring ways to support the growth of blockchain technologies while balancing consumer protection.
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