Cryptocurrency industry groups are urging the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue formal guidance on staking, citing continued regulatory uncertainty for Web3 infrastructure providers, according to Allison Muehr, head of staking policy for the Crypto Council for Innovation, a trade group.
Clarifying the SEC’s position on staking has become a top priority for the crypto industry, Muehr said during Solana’s Accelerate conference in New York.
“We’re about 25% of the way there,” Muehr said. “The SEC has done more constructive engagement with us in the past four months than in the last four years, but we still don’t have formal staking guidance.”
Related: SEC acknowledges slew of crypto ETF filings as reviews, approvals accelerate
Changing regulatory stance
Under the previous US presidential administration, the SEC brought enforcement actions against several crypto firms for offering staking services it alleged were unregistered securities offerings.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the SEC has softened its stance.
In February, the agency issued guidance stating that memecoins do not qualify as investment contracts under US law.
In April, the regulator clarified that stablecoins also do not qualify as securities if they are marketed solely as a means of making payments.
Still, the agency has yet to approve staking in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or issue formal guidance on how staking services can be offered compliantly in the US.
Other policy goals
Muehr said she is optimistic the SEC will eventually approve staking for cryptocurrency ETFs, including for proposed Solana (SOL) funds.
“Getting there means first getting the SEC comfortable with the structure,” she said, noting the industry has recently had “some productive meetings with the agency.”
“I’m hopeful we’ll see a Solana ETF and even a staked Solana ETF in the US sometime soon.”
The SEC is not the only agency the crypto industry is looking to persuade. Muehr said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — the top US tax authority — has also taken a position the industry opposes.
“The IRS finally issued a statement saying staking rewards are service income,” she said. “We disagree with that interpretation and continue to engage.”
Magazine: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight
SparkCharge, the company behind mobile off-grid EV chargers, locked in $30.5 million to supercharge its growth across the US, Mexico, and Canada. The new funding includes a $15.5 million Series A-1 round led by Monte’s Fam and a $15 million venture loan from Horizon Technology Finance.
Founded in 2017, SparkCharge says it operates the largest off-grid EV charging network for fleets in the world. Its core service – Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) – lets commercial fleets access DC fast charging without waiting months for permits or dealing with expensive construction. Instead, SparkCharge delivers flexible, mobile, or off-grid charging solutions that can be deployed instantly – no grid access needed.
The fresh funding announced last week will go toward growing SparkCharge’s customer base, expanding its coverage across North America, and rolling out new strategic partnerships. “This raise reflects both the strength of the SparkCharge growth story as well as the market opportunity ahead as electric fleets become the standard for so many prominent brands,” said CEO and founder Josh Aviv. “We’re focused on removing the anxiety, guesswork, and delays – all still barriers for adoption – out of the commercial EV charging experience.”
How SparkCharge’s off-grid charging works
SparkCharge offers three scalable solutions to help fleets go electric quickly:
- Mobile battery charging: An 80–300 kW battery-powered fast charger that’s deployable on demand. Fleets can choose white glove service, self-management, or a hybrid service.
- Off-grid power hub: A 180–500 kW clean energy-powered microgrid fast charger that can juice up multiple EVs at once.
- Permanent EV Infrastructure: A turnkey setup that starts with mobile and off-grid and scales to a permanent, grid-connected system. SparkCharge handles everything from permits to construction.
SparkCharge’s charging network is already live in all 50 states. It recently became the EV Charging Partner for the 2025 Masters Tournament and launched a partnership with electrical equipment maker Pioneer Power. To date, the company says it has delivered over 4 million kWh of energy and displaced more than 500,000 gallons of gasoline.
CFO David Piperno added that the company has also secured non-dilutive financing with CSC Leasing to keep equipment flowing as demand grows.
The SparkCharge model lands at a time when demand for commercial EVs is climbing fast. According to Cox Automotive, 87% of fleet managers expect to add EVs in the next five years, but access to charging remains the biggest barrier. SparkCharge bypasses that bottleneck entirely.
“SparkCharge’s mobile, off-grid charging solutions effectively solve this challenge by bringing power directly to vehicles when and where it’s needed,” said Ed Jean-Louis, CEO of lead investor Monte’s Fam.
Read more: Waffle House is getting DC fast chargers – and it’s a genius move
Now is a great time to begin your solar journey so your system is installed in time for those longer sunny days. If you want to make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate partner
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
UK
Police responding to incident at Liverpool FC parade after reports of car collision with pedestrians
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway