U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Hester Peirce (헤스터 피어스) predicted that the “Clarity Act,” which sets out a cryptocurrency regulatory framework, could pass this summer.

On July 1, blockchain outlet Bitcoin Magazine reported that the bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is awaiting Senate consideration.

In a podcast interview, Peirce described the bill as major legislation with many elements intertwined, while praising the discussion process among House and Senate lawmakers. The Clarity Act would create a federal oversight framework for the currently unregulated crypto spot market and split supervisory authority between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC.

A key point is clarifying the scope for applying a sub-test to determine whether a token qualifies as an investment contract. Peirce said that once this framework is in place, it could also be expected to partially shield developers from liability when third parties misuse tools.

Peirce said the existing enforcement-centered approach pushed the industry in the wrong direction. She said it rewarded those who create one-off projects and made it harder to distinguish legitimate participants from fraudsters. She added that this is a rare period of strong regulatory friendliness and stressed that products that last and create real value need to emerge.

She cited the usefulness of crypto technology as transferring value between networks, reducing high-cost intermediaries, and automating back-office work through smart contracts. She also said tokenised securities could improve collateral mobility and make securities lending easier, and that issuers could connect directly with shareholders via wallets.

She also raised the possibility of integration with artificial intelligence. Peirce predicted that AI agents will trade using crypto assets.

On AI regulation, she placed more emphasis on responding after the fact than on designing rules in advance. Her view is that experimentation should be allowed and responses should come when harm becomes evident. She added that a company’s use of AI does not exempt it from responsibility for the outcome.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins (폴 앳킨스) delivered a similar message in an interview released the same day. In a Fox News interview after a speech at the Economic Club of New York, he stressed free-market capitalism and said he would pursue reforms to encourage more Americans to participate in public markets and to revitalise initial public offerings, or IPOs.

On crypto policy, he made clear his stance of making the United States the world’s crypto hub. Atkins criticised the previous administration for treating digital assets as inherently suspicious and said he would shift direction so innovators can do business again under the U.S. legal system. He also said he wants to create an environment where investors can judge products for themselves.

Atkins also cited the “Trump Account,” scheduled to launch on July 4, as an example of expanding market participation. He said about 6 million children have enrolled, and that children born over the next 2 years will receive a $1,000 deposit, with employers, parents and acquaintances able to make additional contributions. He said the account is similar to an existing individual retirement account, or IRA, and provides an investment touchpoint for children in households where it is difficult to gain market experience.

The remarks came ahead of U.S. Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. SEC leaders commonly stressed open markets, expanded investor access and a clear legal framework for digital assets. That leaves the pace of Senate action on the Clarity Act and how a reshaping of SEC and CFTC authority may change actual regulatory enforcement as the next points to watch.