Agency Discretion

Definition ∞ Agency discretion refers to the independent judgment and authority governmental agencies possess when implementing laws and policies. This permits agencies to apply broad statutory mandates to specific situations based on their specialized expertise. Such authority allows for flexibility in regulatory enforcement and policy application within various sectors, including the digital asset space. It reflects the extent of independent decision-making an agency can exercise without explicit legislative instruction.
Context ∞ Agency discretion is a frequent topic in crypto news, particularly concerning how regulatory bodies choose to classify and oversee diverse digital assets or blockchain activities. Debates often center on whether agencies exceed their delegated authority or apply existing rules inconsistently. Future scrutiny will likely concentrate on the boundaries of this discretion as agencies formulate more specific guidance for the evolving digital asset sector.