2026 US Crypto Policy: Keep an eye on these six key points
author |Aleks Gilbert, DL News
sources |Wu talks about blockchain
original title | Taking stock of the 6 key dates for US cryptocurrency policy in 2026
This article was compiled by Wu Zao Blockchain. The content of this article does not represent Wu Dao's views and does not constitute any investment and financial advice. Readers are requested to strictly abide by local laws and regulations.
The US experienced a revolution in crypto policy over the past year.
Less than a year into his second term, President Donald Trump appointed industry-friendly regulators who terminated investigations against crypto companies, making it easier for banks to hold crypto assets and making it easier for asset managers to issue crypto-related ETFs.
Under Trump's impetus, lawmakers passed landmark stablecoin legislation and made significant progress in market structure legislation.
After these victories became a fait accompli, it's only natural to wonder if 2026 will still be a big year for crypto policy.
The short answer is: yes.
So, without further ado, here are some key dates for US crypto policy in 2026.
January
January is bound to be an event-intensive month.
First, White House crypto adviser David Sacks said the Senate is expected to hold a hearing on the market structure bill in January this year.
Sacks wrote on X in December: “We are closer than ever to passing the landmark crypto market structure legislation called for by President Trump. We're looking forward to completing this work in January!”
These hearings are expected to push the bill out of a standstill in the Senate, where the “Clarity Act” version of the bill was passed in the House of Representatives in July, but has stalled in the Senate.
The market structure legislation, originally thought to be passed in 2025, could transform the US crypto industry.
It will end the battle for regulatory ground between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Both agencies sought to claim jurisdiction over the crypto market during the Biden administration.
“If market structure legislation is passed in early 2026, the focus will shift to the implementation phase,” Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger told DL News.
“We want clear and enforceable rules from the SEC and CFTC, maintain ongoing coordination among agencies, and make targeted amendments in areas such as tax clarity to ensure that the US continues to be a thriving center for crypto innovation.”
This is not expected to be the only development in January.
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins wants to create an “innovation exemption” that allows entrepreneurs to “immediately enter the market with new technology and new business models” if certain conditions are met without complying with “inappropriate or overburdensome” regulatory requirements.
Atkins said on December 2 that this innovative exemption is expected to be announced within a month. That means it could come out anytime.
May 15
Jerome Powell's term as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors ends on May 15.
Trump has criticized Powell for refusing to cut interest rates in a more aggressive manner. The president is likely to appoint a more “submissive” successor.
The Federal Reserve is responsible for formulating US monetary policy. High interest rates increase borrowing costs, thereby curbing high-risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
A more dovish (loose) monetary policy could drive the crypto market upwards — but it could also reignite inflation, which is one of the issues driving Trump back to the White House.
In the context of “affordability” becoming a new keyword in US politics, Trump's selection of a new Federal Reserve chairman will influence not only crypto prices in 2026, but also the 2028 presidential campaign.
Long-time Trump ally Kevin Hassett is currently regarded as the most popular candidate for the position, and according to forecasts, his current nomination probability is 47%.
July 1
New crypto regulations will take effect in California on July 1, 2026.
The state's Digital Financial Assets Act requires that any institution that engages in “digital financial asset business activities” with California residents must obtain a license from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, but there are certain exemptions.
California is a gathering place for many crypto entrepreneurs, and what happens in California often has an extraordinary impact on the entire US tech sector.
July 18th
Passing a bill will get all the headlines, but the real battle begins when the regulators responsible for enforcing the law begin to interpret the new legislation.
The Genius Act requires federal and state regulators to issue additional regulations covering issuer licensing, capital requirements, escrow standards, anti-money laundering provisions, and more.
The publication deadline for these additional regulations is July 18, 2026.
“Market participants will have an important opportunity to participate in policy initiatives and rule-making processes,” Gibson Dunn Law Office wrote in July.
This process has become fraught with controversy. The banking industry is asking regulators to close a “loophole” that allows stablecoin issuers to provide yield products, and banks are concerned that this feature will weaken their deposit base.
The crypto industry is fighting back. The Blockchain Association said in a letter to senators last week that the proposals have the potential to “disrupt carefully negotiated compromises, reduce consumer choices, suppress competition, and inject uncertainty into the implementation of new laws.”
August
By the end of August, we can expect two developments: the submission of crypto tax legislation and the finalization of the CFTC's regulatory rules relating to the application of blockchain technology in capital markets.
Mersinger stated, “In addition to the structure of the market, crypto tax policy remains a top priority.” She specifically mentioned Rep. Mike Carey's recent collaboration with the Treasury Department to resolve tax issues related to crypto staking.
On December 20, Republican Congressman Max Miller from Ohio submitted a draft bill called the Parity Act. The bill aims to establish a small tax exemption threshold for stablecoins.
In other words, spending $5 for a latte, for example, won't trigger a tax event. The bill also sought to prevent crypto loans from being treated as taxable “asset sales.” There are more terms and conditions.
While attending the Blockchain Association Policy Summit in December, Miller said he believes Congress is expected to pass some version of the bill “by August next year.”
In August 2025, then-CFTC Chairman Caroline Pham announced a 12-month “crypto sprint program” focusing on spot crypto transactions, allowing the use of tokenized collateral in the derivatives market, and adjusting regulations to support blockchain applications in the US market.
Pham has made progress on the first two missions, and the last one is expected to be completed by August 2026.
November 3
The US will hold midterm elections on November 3, and this election could completely change the prospects for US crypto policy.
The president has great power, but he's not the “king” — the crypto industry's victory in 2025 was largely due to the Republican Party's weak dominance of both houses of Congress.
If that situation changes in 2026, the crypto industry's “golden age” in Washington could be over.
The Democratic Party has indeed become friendlier to the crypto industry. The House Market Structure Bill received more Democratic support votes in 2025 than in 2024, a change that has made many crypto lobbyists very excited.
However, most Democratic lawmakers are still wary of this industry, which has clearly liberal tendencies.
If the Democratic Party regains control of one or both houses of Congress, the chances of passing any crypto legislation will be significantly reduced.
Fireblocks policy director Sea Markova recently said that if the market structure legislation is passed too close to the midterm elections, then “the risk of the overall stalling of the bill will increase dramatically.”
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