Crypto firms are increasingly returning to the U.S. as federal officials, including SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, promote a more favorable regulatory environment for digital assets. Atkins, in a recent speech, emphasized the need to “reshore the crypto businesses that fled,” signaling a strategic shift under the Trump administration to reposition the U.S. as a global center for cryptocurrency innovation [1]. Bessent reinforced this message, declaring the U.S. is entering a “golden age of crypto” and urging entrepreneurs to build and hire domestically [1].
This pro-crypto policy is already driving tangible changes in the market. Several global firms, including OKX, Deribit, and Nexo, are either expanding into the U.S. or relocating operations back to the country. OKX, for example, relaunched its U.S. operations in June with a new headquarters in San Jose, California, following a $500 million settlement with regulators [1]. Deribit, a Dutch derivatives exchange, is reportedly exploring a U.S. market entry, while London-based Wintermute opened a New York office in May [1].
In addition to international players, U.S. firms like Kraken and MoonPay are also expanding their domestic presence. Kraken moved its global headquarters to Wyoming in June, citing the state’s supportive crypto policies, while MoonPay expanded from Miami to New York and now operates in all 50 states [1].
The SEC has launched an initiative called “Project Crypto,” which aims to reshore crypto businesses and update the regulatory framework to better align with digital assets. Atkins highlighted that many crypto assets do not fall under the current securities definition, a clarification that could reduce regulatory ambiguity and foster innovation [2]. The initiative is part of a broader commission-wide effort to modernize U.S. financial markets for the digital era [3]. Industry observers, including Tim Draper, have praised these steps as a positive shift toward U.S. leadership in the global crypto sector [3].
The return of crypto businesses to the U.S. is being driven by a combination of clearer regulations, political support, and a more constructive regulatory approach from agencies like the SEC. As more firms establish or expand their U.S. operations, the country is positioning itself to retain and attract talent and capital in the digital finance space, reversing a trend that saw many companies relocate to more crypto-friendly jurisdictions in recent years [1].
Source:
[1] https://cointelegraph.com/news/sec-chairman-atkins-reshore-crypto-companies-back-to-the-us
[2] https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/atkins-digital-finance-revolution-073125
[3] https://news.bitcoin.com/tim-draper-applauds-secs-project-crypto-his-all-bitcoin-vision-nears-reality/
