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.