{"id":12469,"date":"2025-05-27T02:46:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T00:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/?p=12469"},"modified":"2025-05-27T02:46:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T00:46:25","slug":"crypto-advocates-call-on-us-regulators-for-clear-guidelines-on-staking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/27\/crypto-advocates-call-on-us-regulators-for-clear-guidelines-on-staking\/","title":{"rendered":"Crypto Advocates Call on US Regulators for Clear Guidelines on Staking"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cryptocurrency industry associations are urging the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to provide official guidance on staking, citing persistent regulatory ambiguity for Web3 infrastructure suppliers, according to Allison Muehr, head of staking policy for the Crypto Council for Innovation, a trade association.<\/p>\n

Clarifying the SEC\u2019s stance on staking has risen to a crucial priority for the crypto sector, Muehr mentioned during Solana\u2019s Accelerate conference in New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re approximately 25% of the way there,\u201d Muehr stated. \u201cThe SEC has engaged with us more constructively in the last four months than in the previous four years, yet we still lack formal staking guidance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allison Muehr, right, the head of staking policy for the Crypto Council for Innovation, addresses attendees at Accelerate. Source: Cointelegraph<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Related: <\/strong><\/em>SEC recognizes numerous crypto ETF filings as reviews and approvals speed up<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Shifting regulatory position<\/h2>\n

During the previous US presidential administration, the SEC initiated enforcement actions against various crypto companies for providing staking services it claimed were unregistered securities offerings.<\/p>\n

Since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, the SEC has moderated its position.<\/p>\n

In February, the agency released guidance indicating that memecoins\u00a0do not meet the criteria of investment contracts<\/a>\u00a0under US law.<\/p>\n

In April, the regulator clarified that stablecoins also do not qualify as securities if they are promoted\u00a0exclusively as a payment method<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, the agency has yet to endorse staking in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or issue formal guidance on how staking services can be compliant within the US.<\/p>\n

Additional policy objectives<\/h2>\n

Muehr expressed optimism that the SEC will ultimately approve staking for cryptocurrency ETFs, including proposed Solana (SOL<\/a>) funds.<\/p>\n

\u201cAchieving this requires first ensuring the SEC is comfortable with the structure,\u201d she noted, mentioning that the industry has recently experienced \u201csome fruitful discussions with the agency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hopeful we\u2019ll observe a Solana ETF and even a staked Solana ETF in the US in the near future.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SEC is not the sole agency the crypto industry aims to influence. Muehr indicated that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)\u2014the leading US tax authority\u2014has also taken a position the industry contests.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe IRS finally released a statement asserting that staking rewards are service income,\u201d she remarked. \u201cWe disagree with that interpretation and continue to engage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Magazine:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Crypto sought to dismantle banks, now it\u2019s evolving into them in the stablecoin struggle<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n