DeFi Tokens Soar: Aave, Uniswap, Sky See 20%+ Gains After SEC Sparks Optimism

DeFi Tokens Explode Higher as SEC Chair Embraces Regulatory Rethink

The decentralized finance sector got a major boost Monday as tokens like Uniswap (UNI), Aave (AAVE), and Sky (SKY) soared over 20%, driven by remarks from SEC Chair Paul Atkins that suggested a more open regulatory framework for DeFi may be on the horizon.

Speaking at a roundtable focused on decentralized finance, Atkins proposed that the agency consider regulatory carve-outs to allow DeFi protocols to operate with fewer compliance burdens, a sharp departure from the SEC’s prior stance under former Chair Gary Gensler.

“The right to have self-custody of one’s private property is a foundational American value,” Atkins declared — a comment that quickly reverberated through the crypto ecosystem.

The contrast in regulatory posture wasn’t lost on analysts.

“We were bracing for cautious optimism — not full-throated support,” wrote Noelle Acheson, author of Crypto Is Macro Now. “The tone shift from the Gensler era couldn’t be more pronounced.”

Crypto industry leaders hailed the moment as a symbolic inflection point.
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, founder of Binance, declared June 9th “DeFi Day” on X, while Arthur Cheong of DeFiance Capital celebrated what he called the “DeFi Renaissance.”

While broader crypto markets were already trending higher, DeFi tokens clearly led the charge. Bitcoin (BTC) gained 1.5% to $103,631, and Ethereum (ETH) — the core infrastructure layer for most DeFi apps — surged over 8% to $2,423.91.

The CoinDesk 20 Index, which tracks major digital assets, rose 4.7% over the last 24 hours.

With regulators signaling a more nuanced approach and investors responding with fresh capital, Monday’s rally could mark the early stages of a regulatory realignment that breathes new life into decentralized finance in the U.S.