Roger Bayston Advocates Persistence Amid SEC Regulatory ShiftsRoger Bayston Advocates Persistence Amid SEC Regulatory Shifts

Roger Bayston, the head of digital assets at Franklin Templeton, emphasises the importance of persistence when navigating the regulatory landscape with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Speaking at the Consensus event, Bayston acknowledges the SEC's reliance on legal precedents and the need for financial innovators to play the long game in establishing trust and collaboration with regulators. Despite occasional skepticism about the SEC's openness, Bayston sees the agency's actions as fundamental to safeguarding the economy. He notes a noticeable shift in tone at the SEC this year compared to the past, expressing optimism about ongoing engagement with regulators. Franklin Templeton's journey to launch its Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund reflects this persistence, with Bayston highlighting the collaborative effort to educate the SEC on blockchain technology's potential in operating mutual funds. Bayston also sees cryptocurrency as a valuable addition to investment portfolios, likening its significance to that of technology stocks decades ago. The recent approval of Franklin Templeton's spot Ether exchange-traded fund application by the SEC further underscores the importance of engagement and persistence in regulatory matters within the crypto space.