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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is entering a new era of regulation. Driven by the “SEC Crypto Task Force” led by Hester Peirce, a new agency – the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) – is about to be established to deal with Web3-related crimes and illegal activities in other emerging technology fields. This new department will replace the “Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit” established during Gary Gensler’s time.
Although CETU will work closely with the Crypto Task Force, its core mission is no longer limited to the field of cryptocurrency. Instead, combating AI crime and related technology abuse will become the department’s top priority.
SEC will continue to combat crypto crime, but with a shift in focus
Since Gary Gensler left the SEC, U.S. federal cryptocurrency regulation has entered an unprecedented new phase. Compared with the high-pressure enforcement during the Gensler era, the SEC has significantly reduced its direct intervention in the crypto industry to some extent. For example, many landmark cases against the crypto industry have been shelved, and some lawyers responsible for crypto enforcement have been reassigned.
However, this does not mean that the SEC has given up on combating crypto crime. Acting Chairman Uyeda said when announcing the establishment of CETU:
“This new department will complement the Crypto Task Force led by Hester Peirce. It will not only be committed to protecting investors, but will also pave the way for innovation, promote capital formation and market efficiency by eliminating those who attempt to use technological innovation to harm investor interests and undermine market confidence.”
CETU will be led by Laura D’Allaird, with a team size of approximately 30 lawyers and fraud experts. Although its predecessor was the “Crypto Assets and Networks Unit” during the Gensler period, the scope of CETU’s responsibilities has been greatly expanded, with the focus shifting to criminal activities related to Web3 technology.
CETU’s core mission: AI crime takes precedence over crypto
At first glance, the establishment of CETU seems to contradict the SEC’s previous signal of “reducing crypto enforcement.” In fact, Hester Peirce has repeatedly stated that the SEC hopes to limit its regulatory responsibilities to specific areas and avoid excessive intervention in the development of the crypto industry. However, Peirce also emphasized that the SEC has not given up on cracking down on illegal activities, but has adjusted its priorities.
From the official statement, CETU’s focus has obviously gone beyond cryptocurrencies. Its main tasks include combating illegal activities in emerging technology fields such as AI crimes, social media fraud, and hacker attacks. In contrast, cryptocurrency is only listed as the fifth of CETU’s seven key areas, and its importance has obviously declined.
In other words, although the SEC has established a new unit focused on Web3 crimes, this does not mean that the crypto industry will usher in a new round of strict regulation. On the contrary, AI-related crimes have become CETU’s top target, and this field has limited relevance to cryptocurrencies.
Against the backdrop of budget cuts, it is difficult for the SEC to return to the “Gensler era”
It is worth noting that the SEC is currently facing pressure from budget cuts, which means it is difficult for it to return to the high-intensity enforcement model of the Gary Gensler era. In 2025, the SEC is more likely to adopt a more balanced strategy to maintain market order while avoiding excessive intervention in innovation.
Therefore, the establishment of CETU can be seen as a strategic adjustment of the SEC: from single cryptocurrency regulation to law enforcement in a broader emerging technology field. This shift not only reflects the SEC’s attention to future technological development trends, but also shows that it hopes to leave more room for innovation while protecting investors.
Summary: Crypto regulation cools down, AI crime becomes a new focus
For the crypto industry, the establishment of CETU may be good news. Although the SEC will continue to crack down on crypto crimes, its focus has clearly shifted to AI and other emerging technologies. This means that the crypto industry may usher in a relatively relaxed regulatory environment in the future, and AI-related crimes will become the focus of the SEC.
In any case, this move by the SEC once again reminds us that the balance between technological innovation and regulation is always a dynamic game. Whether it is cryptocurrency or artificial intelligence, only legal and compliant applications can truly win the trust and support of the market.
