SEC Chairman Paul Atkins: The SEC needs to shift from blocking innovation to embracing it; tokenization will redefine the U.S. financial system. In a recent interview, U.S. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins pointed out that traditional markets suffer from structural opacity in areas like equity ownership and settlement efficiency, while blockchain can bring instant settlement (T+0), transparent holdings, and significantly reduce systemic risks. Atkins reflected that in recent years, the SEC's attitude toward innovation has been 'far less accommodating than in historical periods,' even aligning with China in crypto regulation, becoming one of the few major forces globally attempting to restrict cryptocurrencies. But this is starting to change. He emphasized that if the U.S. wants to maintain its leading position in capital markets, it must proactively embrace on-chain settlement, tokenized securities, and new forms of assets. 'Regulation cannot continue to stand in opposition to the market but should drive modernization, putting the U.S. at the forefront of the next-generation financial system.'