Kevin O’Leary isn’t pulling punches. At Consensus Toronto 2025, the investor, entrepreneur, and Shark Tank personality made one thing clear: he’s done waiting around for the U.S. government to get its act together when it comes to regulating the wild west of crypto. “I want more regulation, and I want it now,” he declared—firing a not-so-subtle shot at Washington’s foot-dragging while underscoring the chaos that’s been brewing beneath the surface of blockchain’s explosive growth.
This isn’t just a soundbite. O’Leary, who once was skeptical of digital assets, has become a vocal advocate for institutional involvement in the space. But for that to happen, he argues, there needs to be a framework. No more legal grey zones, no more fly-by-night operators. Regulation, he says, is the bridge between crypto’s promise and its mainstream future.
In fact, his stance mirrors growing sentiment in both Wall Street circles and among serious blockchain founders—people want rules, not guesswork. His frustration was also directed at the sluggish pace of U.S. policy compared to countries like Canada, which he praised for clearer pathways and responsible oversight.
Why O’Leary’s Call for Regulation Hits Different in 2025
It’s not just about compliance. Kevin’s call is rooted in the bigger picture: legitimacy, security, and market maturation. He wants tokenized assets, smart contracts, and blockchain infrastructure to serve pension funds, family offices, and corporate treasuries. But none of that can happen without regulatory plumbing.
“The capital won’t come in until institutions can confidently allocate,” O’Leary said, echoing a truth industry insiders know too well—without federal guardrails, investors are stuck with risk premiums that just aren’t worth it. Stablecoins, NFTs, even the Bitcoin fund (not the BITB Fund)—they all carry baggage when there’s no standardized policy from the top.
His remarks come at a time when the SEC’s approach feels like a game of 4D chess—slow, opaque, and increasingly divorced from the technology it’s supposed to understand. For players like O’Leary, it’s become a barrier to progress.
Crypto’s Identity Crisis: Is Regulation the Answer?
A lot of crypto purists get jittery when someone mentions regulation. But Kevin isn’t trying to water down the decentralized dream—he’s pushing for maturity. In his view, regulation doesn’t mean censorship or control, it means stability and accountability.
Without oversight, O’Leary warns, bad actors continue to damage credibility. Fraud, rug pulls, and outright criminal schemes have turned off the very stakeholders needed to scale Web3 into real-world applications. “You can’t have financial innovation without rule of law,” he added.
There’s irony here—crypto was born to escape the traditional financial system. But now it’s looking to borrow its playbook. And O’Leary, ever the realist, knows this paradox is exactly what will drive adoption. Not everyone’s thrilled about it, but it’s hard to argue with the logic.
The Road Ahead: Will the U.S. Finally Move?
O’Leary’s call may add fresh pressure on U.S. lawmakers, but the clock’s ticking. While countries like the UK and Singapore are racing ahead with structured digital asset frameworks, the U.S. continues to lean on enforcement actions instead of clear policy.
And that’s costing it. Talented developers and capital are flowing elsewhere. O’Leary warned that without immediate action, America risks falling behind in one of the most transformative financial evolutions in history.
So yeah, he wants more regulation. And if the crypto world is being honest with itself, most of us probably do too.
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