The following is a guest post and opinion from Jeremy Boynton, Co-Founder of Pure Crypto.
As Washington’s shutdown drags on, now is a good moment to step back and assess a SEC decision that could shape innovation, advisors and everyday investors for years to come.
The impact of this development cannot be overstated, and should be on the short list of industry breakthroughs — along with moments like CME’s Bitcoin futures debut in 2017, Coinbase’s Wall Street listing in 2021, the Ethereum Merge in 2022 and the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024.
For an industry long stuck in limbo, the starting gun has fired.
In practice, this normalization of crypto within a standard brokerage account means retirees can hold digital assets in their IRA alongside stocks and bonds. Or that RIAs can rebalance into crypto without operational gymnastics or compliance nightmares.
Beyond accessibility, this development deepens crypto’s integration with traditional finance.
With more ETPs subject to standard custody and reporting, banks can more comfortably lend against these assets. The ability to borrow against crypto holdings makes crypto an active participant in banking and credit markets. Crypto is now less isolated; it’s becoming part of the backbone of finance, just like stocks or Treasurys.
Arguably the most notable shift here is one of core philosophy at the regulatory level.
The result won’t just be new ETPs; it will be a test of American competitiveness. Down the line, we may see tokenized real estate ETFs or other thematic products. If the U.S. makes the rules, innovation will happen here. If not, it happens overseas. By fast-tracking crypto into mainstream financial products and explicitly endorsing an on-chain future, Washington is keeping America in the game — and perhaps even putting it back in the lead.
This rule change is among the most meaningful for the industry in years. This isn’t just about ETPs — it’s about recognizing crypto as a legitimate part of modern portfolios. For advisors, it means empowerment to more comprehensively serve client demand. For investors, it means choice and convenience. For innovators, it means the U.S. is back in the game. Crypto’s integration into everyday finance has been a long time coming, but now it’s here — and it’s accelerating under clear, confident rules.
The road to a truly on-chain financial system has opened up, and I, for one, am bullish about where it leads.
Disclaimer – this was a promoted (paid) post as part of our Thought Leadership program for contributors.
