DeFi Tokens Rally Over 20% as SEC Chair’s Comments Signal Softer Stance
Decentralized finance tokens surged Monday after SEC Chair Paul Atkins voiced unexpectedly supportive views during a regulatory roundtable, sparking renewed investor optimism across the sector.
Uniswap (UNI), Aave (AAVE), and Sky (SKY) each jumped more than 20% on the day, sharply outperforming broader crypto benchmarks. The rally followed Atkins’ suggestion that the SEC explore regulatory exemptions for DeFi projects, allowing them to operate with fewer restrictions.
“The right to have self-custody of one’s private property is a foundational American value,” Atkins said — a stark contrast from the stricter stance of former Chair Gary Gensler.
Market participants welcomed the shift.
“We didn’t expect such a strong endorsement,” noted analyst Noelle Acheson, calling Atkins’ comments a “clear departure” from past rhetoric.
Industry leaders responded swiftly. Binance founder CZ called June 9th ‘DeFi Day’, while Arthur Cheong of DeFiance Capital hailed the moment as a continuation of the “DeFi Renaissance.”
The broader market also gained, with Bitcoin (BTC) rising 1.5% to $103,631, and Ethereum (ETH) — a key DeFi platform — climbing more than 8% to $2,423.91. The CoinDesk 20 Index was up 4.7% over 24 hours.
With regulatory winds potentially shifting, Monday’s rally marks more than a price spike — it reflects growing optimism that U.S. policy could begin to align more closely with crypto-native innovation.
