SEC pauses ETFs and key crypto decisions ahead of another government shutdown
As of the 31st of January 2026, U.S. financial regulation has slowed almost to a stop.
This is because the government has failed to pass a budget, forcing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate under its shutdown plan.
Importantly, the SEC is not fully closed; it is barely functioning. For example, the EDGAR system, where companies submit filings, is still running.
At the same time, most SEC staff are not working, which means few people are actually reviewing or approving those filings.
As a result, the employees who normally approve crypto ETFs, review registration statements, and explain new rules are largely unavailable.
Instead, only a small emergency team remains active, allowed to step in only if there is…
