The US 2026 crypto regulatory landscape may see a turning point as the SEC and CFTC deepen collaboration

Crypto界网消息, As the Trump administration enters its second year in office, the US crypto regulatory landscape is undergoing significant changes. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is pushing a more aggressive crypto regulatory agenda, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is playing an increasingly central role in crypto asset regulation. The previous “regulatory turf war” between the two agencies has eased. Reports indicate that the acting chair of the CFTC has previously stated that the regulatory disagreements with the SEC have ended, and that future cooperation will be strengthened. Over the past year, the two agencies have jointly issued guidance on key areas such as spot crypto trading, 24/7 markets, perpetual contracts, and decentralized finance. Howard Fischer, a former SEC official and current partner at Moses & Singer law firm, noted that this is the most cooperative phase he has seen between the two major regulators.

In terms of specific actions, SEC Chair Paul Atkins has introduced a “Token Classification System” and launched “Project Crypto,” aiming to systematically update digital asset regulation rules, while also promoting an “Innovation Exemption” mechanism to accelerate compliant crypto product deployment. The SEC has also approved listing standards for some crypto ETFs and clarified that liquid staking and PoS staking activities do not constitute securities transactions. Additionally, tokenization has become a key focus for the SEC; a recent “no-action letter” issued to the custodial trust company DTC is seen by industry insiders as an important pilot signal for real-world asset tokenization.

Meanwhile, the CFTC is accelerating rule clarification through the “Crypto Sprint,” allowing exchanges to list regulated-approved spot crypto products and withdrawing some restrictive guidelines. New CFTC Chair Michael Selig is expected to push for a crypto regulatory framework led by the CFTC at the legislative level. Saga CEO Rebecca Liao stated that if the CFTC focuses on Bitcoin, which has been explicitly recognized as a commodity, it will have a significant positive impact on the entire crypto market.

The report also notes that both the SEC and CFTC currently face vacancies in their commissioner seats, but analysts believe this will not alter the overall trend toward collaborative and institutionalized crypto regulation by 2026.