Uber on Thursday sent a letter to federal securities regulators, asking for rules changes that would let it provide company stock to its drivers, Axios has learned.

• Uber first met with U.S. Securities and Exchange officials several years ago about this issue, but was rebuffed. New SEC chairman Jay Clayton, however, spearheaded a request for comment on the issue, and Airbnb received attention last month for its positive response.

Why it matters: This could become an important new type of compensation for millions of "gig economy" workers.