- The structure of the cryptocurrency market and the implementation of the Genius Act will be key topics in US policy conversations throughout 2026.
- There’s also a tax proposal in development.
- Both initiatives may depend on the outcomes of the upcoming midterm elections in November, which could reshape the political landscape in Washington, D.C.
The past year marked a significant shift in US cryptocurrency policy.
Less than a year into his second term, President Donald Trump has appointed regulators supportive of the industry, who have ceased investigations into crypto firms, simplified banking processes for crypto holdings, and eased the path for asset managers to create crypto-centered exchange-traded funds.
At Trump’s encouragement, lawmakers formalized groundbreaking stablecoin legislation and advanced market structure discussions significantly.
With these achievements behind them, many are questioning whether 2026 will prove to be a pivotal year for crypto policy.
The concise answer: absolutely.
Here are some crucial dates to consider for US cryptocurrency policy in 2026.
January
January is anticipated to be a month filled with activity.
To kick things off, White House crypto advisor David Sacks has indicated that Senate hearings on the market structure bill are scheduled for the first month of the new year.
“We are closer than ever to enacting the historic crypto market structure legislation that President Trump has advocated for,” Sacks posted on X in December. “We can’t wait to finalize this task in January!”
These hearings are projected to advance the legislation in the Senate, where it has been stalled since the Clarity Act passed the House of Representatives in July.
Once approved in 2025, the market structure bill could revolutionize the US crypto landscape.
It aims to resolve a regulatory conflict between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
During the Biden administration, both agencies vied for regulatory oversight over crypto markets.
According to Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, “If cryptocurrency market structure legislation is passed early in 2026, the focus will shift to its execution.”
“We aim for precise, functional guidelines from the SEC and CFTC along with ongoing interagency collaboration and focused adjustments such as tax clarity to keep the United States a vibrant hub for crypto advancement.”
January is also expected to bring other significant changes.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins plans to introduce an “innovation exemption,” allowing entrepreneurs to “launch new technologies and business models” without adhering to overly burdensome regulations, provided they fulfill certain criteria.
On December 2, Atkins stated that we should anticipate this innovation exemption within a month, meaning it could be announced at any moment.
May 15
The tenure of Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors concludes on May 15. Trump has criticized Powell for not being aggressive enough in lowering interest rates.
It’s likely that the president will appoint a more accommodating successor.
The Federal Reserve shapes US monetary policy. Elevated interest rates increase borrowing costs, curb interest in high-risk assets like cryptocurrencies, and a more lenient monetary stance could trigger a crypto surge, while potentially reigniting inflation—a factor behind Trump’s return to the presidency.
With “affordability” gaining traction in American political discourse, Trump’s choice for Fed chair will not only influence crypto valuations in 2026 but may also impact the upcoming presidential race in 2028.
Long-time Trump ally Kevin Hassett is currently considered a leading candidate for the position, with Polymarket participants giving him a 47% likelihood of nomination.
July 1
California’s new cryptocurrency regulations will take effect on July 1, 2026.
The state’s Digital Financial Assets Law mandates that any individual engaging in “digital financial asset business activity” with a California resident must acquire a license from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, although some exemptions exist.
California hosts many crypto entrepreneurs, and developments in the state often influence the broader US tech scene.
July 18
While passing a bill garners media attention, the real challenge emerges when the regulators responsible for implementing these laws start their work.
The Genius Act instructs both federal and state regulators to draft further regulations related to licensing issuers, capital requirements, custody standards, anti-money laundering measures, and much more.
These additional regulations are due on July 18, 2026.
“There will be substantial opportunities for market participants to engage in advocacy and rule-making processes,” attorneys from Gibson Dunn noted last July.
This process has already become contentious. Banks are urging regulators to close a “loophole” that enables stablecoin issuers to provide yields, a feature that concerns banks as it may threaten their deposit base. The cryptocurrency sector is pushing back against this.
These suggestions pose a risk of undermining “a delicate compromise, limiting consumer choices, stifling competition, and introducing uncertainty into the implementation of new laws,” the Blockchain Association remarked in a letter sent to Senators last week.
August
By the conclusion of August, we anticipate two significant developments: the introduction of crypto tax legislation and the finalization of CFTC regulations related to the use of blockchain technology in capital markets.
“In addition to market structure, establishing a fair tax policy for crypto is a priority,” Mersinger mentioned, emphasizing Representative Mike Carey’s recent initiatives with the Treasury Department to resolve tax-related challenges concerning crypto staking.
On December 20, Representative Max Miller, a Republican from Ohio, introduced a draft bill named the Parity Act, aiming to create a de minimus exemption for stablecoins.
This means that spending as little as $5 on a coffee wouldn’t initiate a taxable event, and it also aims to prevent the taxation of crypto lending as a sale. Additionally, it encompasses multiple other provisions.
During his appearance at the Blockchain Association’s December policy summit, Miller expressed confidence that Congress could pass a version of his bill “by hopefully next August.”
In August 2025, then-CFTC Chair Caroline Pham announced a 12-month “crypto sprint” emphasizing spot crypto trading, tokenized collateral usage in derivatives markets, and modifying regulations to permit blockchain technology in US markets.
Pham has already achieved strides on the first two goals, and aims to complete the final objective by August 2026.
November 3
Midterm elections in the US are set for November 3, with the potential to alter the trajectory of US cryptocurrency policies.
While the president plays a significant role, he isn’t all-powerful; the gains achieved by the industry in 2025 were largely attributed to the Republicans holding a slim majority in both houses of Congress.
If this shifts in 2026, it could signal the end of crypto’s prosperous phase in Washington, D.C.
Democrats have shown a greater interest in crypto lately. The House’s market structure legislation received more Democratic backing in 2025 than in 2024, a shift that pleased many crypto advocates this year.
However, a majority of Democrats still approach the industry with caution.
Should Democrats gain control of one or both houses of Congress, the chances of advancing any crypto-related legislation would diminish significantly.
Fireblocks Policy Director Sea Markova recently noted that the market structure legislation may be “in jeopardy if it comes too close to the midterm elections.”
Aleks Gilbert serves as the DeFi correspondent for DL News, based in New York. You can reach him at aleks@dlnews.com.