2026 is predicted to be the year when key laws regarding cryptocurrencies in the US begin to take effect, ranging from a regulatory framework for stablecoins to the structure of the digital asset market.
Following a year of significant shifts in cryptocurrency policy under the Trump administration in 2025, 2026 promises to be a period where formal legal frameworks are implemented and have a real impact. From the completion of the GENIUS Act on stablecoins to the debate surrounding regulatory authority between the SEC and CFTC, the US cryptocurrency ecosystem is entering a new chapter with greater transparency.
Ruslan Lienkha, Market Director at YouHodler, believes that the trend toward establishing a clear regulatory framework will facilitate deeper involvement of banks and financial institutions in the cryptocurrency market next year. This forecast is reinforced by a series of policy moves, from the cancellation of SEC lawsuits against cryptocurrency businesses to the signing into law of the stablecoin act, demonstrating a clear departure from previous administrations.
One of the most anticipated issues in the industry is the fate of the Clarity Act (Clarification of Digital Asset Market Structures Act). While the House passed the bill in July 2025, the Senate had yet to vote on it by the end of the year. The Senate Banking Committee released its Republican-led draft in July, while the Agriculture Committee released a bipartisan version in November.
Both draft proposals aim to grant the CFTC more authority in regulating digital assets, instead of leaving the SEC as the dominant Vai as before.
The GENIUS Act and the era of regulated stablecoins
The GENIUS Act, signed into law by President Trump in July 2025, will officially take effect 18 months or 120 days after regulatory agencies approve the implementing regulations. This means the regulatory framework for stablecoin payments could be officially implemented in 2026 or later. The US Treasury Department opened two rounds of public comments in August and September, with expectations that an announcement on the regulatory process will be made in the first half of 2026.
Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, believes that as regulatory clarity strengthens, banks will increasingly proactively explore onchain tools to transform payment, settlement, and liquidation provision operations. If major US banks begin issuing regulatory-compliant stablecoins or Tokenize deposits, the market could see a significant expansion of global liquidation and a richer DeFi mix.
On December 16, the FDIC proposed allowing bank subsidiaries to oversee the issuance of payment stablecoins under the criteria of the GENIUS Act, further affirming the trend of integrating crypto assets into the traditional financial system.
In addition to federal legislation, Texas has led the movement for state-level cryptocurrency reserves, with Governor Gregg Abbott signing into law in June the establishment of a Bitcoin holding fund. By November, this fund held $5 million in BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF and planned to invest an additional $5 million directly in BTC in 2026. Arizona and New Hampshire have also passed similar legislation, opening the possibility that more states will announce plans to purchase crypto assets in the coming year.
However, one uncertain factor is that President Trump has yet to finalize the appointment of the CFTC leader. After withdrawing his nomination of Brian Quintenz in September, Trump nominated Michael Selig as Chairman, who was confirmed by the Senate with a 53-43 vote in December. However, the remaining four commissioner seats are still vacant, raising concerns about the agency's ability to function effectively in 2026.
