SEC signals regulatory clarity for US crypto markets
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins says he is confident that a long-awaited crypto market structure bill could be signed into law by US President Donald Trump before the end of the year. The legislation is designed to end years of regulatory uncertainty and bring clearer rules to the US cryptocurrency market.
Speaking in a Monday interview with Fox Business, Atkins outlined a bullish regulatory outlook for digital assets in 2026, emphasizing that Washington is closer than ever to establishing a coherent framework for crypto oversight.
GENIUS Act sets the foundation for crypto regulation
Atkins pointed to the passage of the GENIUS Act in 2025 as a major milestone for the industry. According to the SEC chair, the law delivered a critical piece of regulatory clarity and demonstrated bipartisan willingness to modernize US financial rules for digital assets.
With that groundwork in place, Atkins said the upcoming crypto market structure bill represents the next major step in strengthening the domestic crypto sector and restoring confidence among investors and companies operating in the US.
Bipartisan bill aligns with Trump’s crypto vision
Atkins stressed that the proposed legislation fits directly into President Trump’s stated goal of making the United States the global hub for digital assets.
Clear legislation and clearly defined rules, he said, would provide certainty to the market and encourage innovation to remain onshore. Atkins added that regulators are fully supportive of the bill and optimistic about its impact once signed into law.
According to him, passing the bill this year would be a “huge help” to the crypto marketplace, unlocking growth while reducing regulatory risk.
Senate delays add short-term uncertainty
Despite growing momentum, the legislative process has hit a brief delay. On Monday, the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee announced it would push the final markup of the bill to the end of January. Lawmakers said they need more time to finalize details and secure broader support.
The committee had initially planned to move forward this week to align with a markup by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which remains scheduled as planned.
Government shutdown risk looms
Another potential obstacle is the risk of a US government shutdown. If the House of Representatives fails to pass key government spending bills by Jan. 30, legislative timelines could be disrupted, potentially slowing progress on crypto-related legislation.
Atkins calls for ending crypto’s regulatory gray zone
In a post on X, Atkins said the most important step the government can take right now is to move crypto asset markets out of the regulatory gray zone.
He argued that passing bipartisan market structure legislation would protect the industry from inconsistent enforcement and “rogue regulators,” while helping future-proof the US crypto ecosystem.
Clear SEC and CFTC oversight ahead
The crypto market structure bill is widely seen as a turning point for US digital asset regulation. If passed, it would formally define oversight responsibilities between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, ending years of ambiguity over which agency regulates different segments of the crypto market.
For investors, exchanges, and builders, the bill could mark the beginning of a more stable, predictable era for crypto in the United States — and a major step toward Washington’s ambition to become the world’s leading crypto capital.
