Author | Aleks Gilbert, DL News
Source | WuBlockchain
Original Title | Reviewing the 6 Key Dates for US Cryptocurrency Policy in 2026
This article is compiled by WuBlockchain. The content does not represent WuBlockchain's views and does not constitute any financial investment advice. Readers must strictly comply with the laws and regulations of their location.
The past year has witnessed a revolution in US crypto policy.
In less than a year into his second term, President Donald Trump appointed industry-friendly regulators who terminated investigations into crypto companies, made it easier for banks to hold crypto assets, and enabled asset management companies to issue crypto-related ETFs more readily.
Driven by Trump, lawmakers passed landmark stablecoin legislation and made significant progress on market structure legislation.
With these victories now established, it's natural to wonder if 2026 will still be a significant 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 set to be an event-packed month.
First, White House crypto advisor David Sacks indicated that the Senate is expected to hold hearings on the market structure bill in January.
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 look forward to completing this work in January!"
These hearings are expected to move the bill out of its stalled state in the Senate, after the "Clarity Act" version passed the House in July but stalled in the Senate.
Market structure legislation, initially expected to pass in 2025, has the potential to transform the US crypto industry.
It would end the regulatory turf war between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
During the Biden administration, both agencies attempted to claim jurisdiction over the crypto market.
"If market structure legislation passes in early 2026, the focus will shift to the implementation phase," Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger told DL News.
"We hope for clear and enforceable rules from the SEC and CFTC, sustained inter-agency coordination, and targeted amendments in areas like tax clarity to ensure the US remains a thriving hub for crypto innovation."
January is not expected to see just this one development.
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins wants to create an "innovation exemption" that would allow entrepreneurs to "enter the market immediately with new technologies and business models" under certain conditions, without having to comply with regulatory requirements that are "ill-fitting or overly burdensome."
Atkins stated on December 2nd that this innovation exemption is expected to be announced within a month. This means it could be released at any time.
May 15
Jerome Powell's term as Chair of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors ends on May 15.
Trump has criticized Powell for refusing to cut interest rates more aggressively. The President is likely to appoint a more "compliant" successor.
The Fed is responsible for setting US monetary policy. High interest rates increase borrowing costs, thereby suppressing riskier assets, including cryptocurrencies.
A more dovish (accommodative) monetary policy could boost crypto markets — but it could also rekindle inflation, which was one of the issues that propelled Trump back to the White House.
Against the backdrop of "affordability" becoming a new keyword in US politics, Trump's pick for the new Fed Chair will not only influence crypto prices in 2026 but could also impact the 2028 presidential campaign.
Longtime Trump ally Kevin Hassett is currently seen as the frontrunner for the position, with a 47% probability of nomination according to predictions.
July 1
New crypto regulatory rules will take effect in California on July 1, 2026.
The state's Digital Financial Assets Law requires any entity engaged in "digital financial asset business activity" with California residents to obtain a license from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, with certain exemptions.
California is home to numerous crypto entrepreneurs, and what happens in California often has an outsized influence on the entire US tech sector.
July 18
Passing a bill grabs all the headlines, but the real battle begins when the regulatory agencies responsible for enforcing the law start interpreting the new legislation.
The Genius Act requires federal and state regulators to issue additional supplementary regulations covering issuer licensing, capital requirements, custody standards, anti-money laundering provisions, and more.
The deadline for publishing these supplementary regulations is July 18, 2026.
Gibson Dunn law firm wrote in July: "Market participants will have significant opportunities to participate in policy advocacy work and the rulemaking process."
This process has already become contentious. The banking industry is asking regulators to close a "loophole" that allows stablecoin issuers to offer yield products, which banks fear could erode their deposit base.
The crypto industry is fighting back. In a letter to senators last week, the Blockchain Association said these proposals risk undermining "carefully negotiated compromises, reducing consumer choice, stifling competition, and injecting uncertainty into the implementation of the new law."
August
By the end of August, we can expect two developments: the submission of crypto tax legislation and the finalization of CFTC rules regarding the application of blockchain technology in capital markets.
Mersinger said: "Beyond market structure, crypto tax policy remains a top priority," specifically mentioning recent work by Congressman Mike Carey with the Treasury Department to address 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 de minimis tax exemption threshold for stablecoins.
This means that, for example, spending $5 on a latte would not trigger a taxable event. The bill also seeks to prevent treating crypto lending as a taxable "sale of assets." There are more provisions.
Speaking at the Blockchain Association policy summit in December, Miller said he believes Congress has a chance to pass some version of the bill "by next August."
In August 2025, then-CFTC Chair Caroline Pham announced a 12-month "crypto sprint initiative" focused on spot crypto trading, allowing the use of tokenized collateral in derivatives markets, and adjusting regulations to support blockchain applications in US markets.
Pham has already made progress on the first two tasks and expects the final task to be completed by August 2026.
November 3
The US will hold midterm elections on November 3, and these elections could completely alter the outlook for US crypto policy.
The President has significant power, but he is not a "king" — the crypto industry's victories in 2025 were largely due to Republicans holding slim majorities in both houses of Congress.
If this changes in 2026, the crypto industry's "golden age" in Washington could end.
Democrats have indeed become more friendly to the crypto industry. In 2025, the House market structure bill received more Democratic votes than in 2024, a change that excited many crypto lobbyists.
But a majority of Democratic lawmakers remain wary of this industry with its distinct libertarian leanings.
If Democrats regain control of one or both houses of Congress, the likelihood of passing any crypto legislation will significantly decrease.
Fireblocks Policy Director Sea Markova recently stated that if the passage of market structure legislation gets too close to the midterm elections, the risk of the bill "stalling overall increases significantly."
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