DeFi Tokens Soar as SEC Chair Signals New Era for Crypto Regulation
A sweeping rally in DeFi tokens sent Uniswap (UNI), Aave (AAVE), and Sky (SKY) soaring more than 20% on Monday, as investors cheered unexpectedly supportive remarks from SEC Chair Paul Atkins that could mark the beginning of a more favorable regulatory climate for decentralized finance.
Speaking at a roundtable on crypto policy, Atkins suggested the agency should consider exemptions for DeFi platforms, allowing them to operate with fewer compliance constraints.
“The right to have self-custody of one’s private property is a foundational American value,” Atkins said, signaling a dramatic break from the enforcement-first approach under former Chair Gary Gensler.
The shift in tone was not only notable — it was celebrated.
“We knew Atkins would strike a more open tone, but this was a full-throttle endorsement of DeFi’s core principles,” said Noelle Acheson, author of Crypto Is Macro Now.
In response, leading figures in the space heralded the day as historic. Binance’s CZ declared June 9th “DeFi Day”, while DeFiance Capital’s Arthur Cheong said the rally reflected a growing realization that “The DeFi Renaissance continues.”
Beyond DeFi, the broader crypto market also posted gains. Bitcoin (BTC) climbed 1.5% to $103,631, and Ethereum (ETH) — the primary infrastructure for DeFi — gained over 8% to $2,423.91. The CoinDesk 20 Index, tracking the top digital assets, was up 4.7% in the past 24 hours.
Investors now see the regulatory tide potentially turning in DeFi’s favor — and Monday’s rally may be just the beginning of a longer-term revaluation of the sector.
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