Greenlighting Yield in the US: A New Era for Crypto-Backed Interest Products

In July 2025, SEC Chair Paul Atkins unveiled “Project Crypto,” a groundbreaking initiative designed to reframe how digital assets are treated by U.S. regulators. With this announcement, the door opened wide for U.S. residents to safely access interest-bearing crypto products—staking, lending, and tokenized yield—all within a legally sound and innovation-friendly environment.

Why This Moment Matters

Until now, the U.S. has been a grey zone for crypto-based interest products. Whether you wanted to lend your Bitcoin, stake your ETH, or deposit USDC for passive rewards, there were always questions:

Is this legal?
Is this a security?
What happens if the platform gets shut down?

Project Crypto changes the rules of the game. Here’s how:

Clear distinction between securities and utility tokens
Safe harbor rules for staking and DeFi participation
Pathways for platforms to bundle trading, lending, and custody in a compliant way
Support for tokenized financial instruments under new classification

These changes unlock new potential for growth, earnings, and innovation.

New Yield Opportunities for Everyday Investors

Here’s what you can expect in the near future:

1. Lending Made Easy

Soon, more regulated and mainstream money apps will allow you to lend Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins like USDC or USDT to vetted borrowers. Whether it’s institutions seeking liquidity or on-chain protocols, your capital earns real yield while staying in a transparent, on-chain framework. We also anticipate loosening restrictions on platforms only serving accredited investors.

Expect yields between 4%–12% depending on asset type, borrower risk, and market demand.

2. Staking with Legal Clairty

Staking has always offered solid rewards (4–10%+ APY in on-chain native implementations), but in the U.S., many platforms hesitated to offer it. With new regulatory clarity, you’ll be able to stake directly in nearly all crypto apps soon.

Expect updated tax guidance for staking from the IRS soon.

3. Tokenized Yield Instruments

Imagine fixed-income products—but on-chain. Expect tokenized notes or bonds backed by crypto collateral. These assets can provide:

Fixed interest
Tradability
Transparent backing and credit profiles

These products will mirror the safety and predictability of traditional investments, but run on blockchain rails.

The Rise of Crypto-Infused Super-Apps

Regulatory clarity is just the first chapter of the story. We’re entering the age of the crypto TradFi hybrid app —where you can:

Hold USD, BTC, and ETH side-by-side
Stake or lend with confidence
Access insurance, credit, and other payment tools
Pay with yield-earning stablecoins at any store

These apps will look and feel like your current banking or investment app—but with better yields, greater flexibility, and global reach. Think “Robinhood x Coinbase x Ally Bank” in one seamless mobile experience.

The Future: A Yield-Powered Financial System

Crypto interest products won’t just exist beside traditional finance—they’ll be fused in.

We’re looking at a future where:

Your 401(k) could include tokenized crypto bonds
Your mortgage provider accepts on-chain staking rewards as income
Your employer pays bonuses in yield-bearing stablecoins
Micro-yield apps help users earn rewards for small actions

As trust and usability improve, crypto-powered yield will become a core part of the American financial landscape.

With the launch of Project Crypto, earning yield on your digital assets is no longer just for other countries or risk-tolerant DeFi pros.

Update: Liquid Staking Gets the Green Light

The SEC just cleared the path for liquid staking in the U.S., confirming that receipt tokens like stETH or rETH aren’t securities — as long as providers only offer technical services. This means you can now stake assets and stay liquid, using those tokens across DeFi and TradFi platforms while still earning yield. With regulatory clarity, expect institutional adoption and deeper U.S. integration to follow.