A roundup of 6 key dates in U.S. cryptocurrency policy in 2026

Author | Aleks Gilbert, DL News

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The past year has seen a revolution in U.S. crypto policy.

In less than a year of his second term, President Donald Trump appointed industry-friendly regulators who ended investigations into crypto companies, made it easier for banks to hold crypto assets, and facilitated the issuance of crypto-related ETFs by asset management firms.

Under Trump’s push, lawmakers passed milestone legislation on stablecoins and made significant progress on market structure legislation.

With these victories now a reality, it’s natural to wonder whether 2026 will still be an important year for crypto policy.

The short answer is: yes.

So, without further ado, here are some key dates for U.S. crypto policy in 2026.

January

January is destined to be a month packed with events.

First, White House crypto advisor David Sacks stated that the Senate is expected to hold a hearing on the Market Structure Bill this January.

Sacks wrote on X in December: “We are closer than ever to passing the milestone crypto market structure legislation called for by President Trump. We look forward to completing this work in January!”

These hearings are expected to push the bill out of deadlock in the Senate, where the “Clarity Act” version of the bill had passed the House in July but stalled in the Senate.

Market structure legislation was originally expected to pass in 2025 and could have transformed the U.S. 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 have tried to claim jurisdiction over the crypto markets.

“If the market structure legislation passes in early 2026, the focus will shift to implementation,” Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, told DL News.

“We hope to get clear and enforceable rules from the SEC and CFTC, maintain ongoing coordination between agencies, and make targeted amendments on issues like tax clarity to ensure the U.S. remains a hub of crypto innovation.”

January is also unlikely to see only this progress.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins hopes to create an “innovation exemption” allowing entrepreneurs to “enter the market immediately with new technologies and business models” under certain conditions, without complying with regulations that are “not suitable or overly burdensome.”

Atkins said on December 2 that this innovation exemption is expected to be announced within a month, meaning it could be introduced at any time.

May 15

Jerome Powell’s term as Chair of the Federal Reserve Board will end on May 15.

Trump previously criticized Powell for refusing to cut interest rates more aggressively. The president is likely to appoint a more “compliant” successor.

The Federal Reserve is responsible for setting U.S. monetary policy. High interest rates increase borrowing costs, which can suppress high-risk assets including cryptocurrencies.

A more dovish (loose) monetary policy could boost the crypto market — but it could also reignite inflation, which is one of the issues prompting Trump’s return to the White House.

Against the backdrop of “affordability” becoming a new keyword in U.S. politics, the new Fed chair chosen by Trump will not only influence crypto prices in 2026 but could also impact the 2028 presidential race.

Longtime Trump ally Kevin Hassett is currently considered the frontrunner for the position, with a current nomination probability of 47%, according to forecasts.

July 1

New crypto regulatory legislation will take effect in California on July 1, 2026.

The state’s Digital Financial Assets Law requires any entity engaging in “digital financial asset business activities” with California residents to obtain a license from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, with certain exemptions.

California is home to many crypto startups, and what happens there often has an outsized impact on the entire U.S. tech sector.

July 18

A bill may garner all 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 more supplementary rules covering issuer licensing, capital requirements, custody standards, anti-money laundering provisions, and more.

The deadline for these supplementary rules is July 18, 2026.

Gibson Dunn law firm wrote in July: “Market participants will have important opportunities to engage in policy initiatives and rulemaking processes.”

This process has already become contentious. The banking industry is demanding regulators close a “loophole” that allows stablecoin issuers to offer yield products, fearing this could weaken their deposit base.

The crypto industry is fighting back. In a letter to senators last week, the Blockchain Association said these proposals could undermine “the carefully negotiated compromise, reduce consumer choice, stifle 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 CFTC rules related to blockchain technology applications in capital markets.

Mersinger said: “Aside from market structure, crypto tax policy remains a top priority.” She specifically mentioned recent cooperation between Rep. Mike Carey and the Treasury Department to address tax issues related to crypto staking.

On December 20, Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller introduced a bill called the Parity Act. The bill aims to establish a small exemption threshold for stablecoins.

This means, for example, that buying a latte for $5 would not trigger a taxable event. The bill also seeks to prevent crypto lending from being classified as taxable “asset sales.” There are more provisions.

Miller said at the December Blockchain Association policy summit that he believes Congress is likely to pass some version of the bill “by August next year.”

In August 2025, then-CFTC Chair Caroline Pham announced a 12-month “Crypto Sprint” focused on spot crypto trading, allowing tokenized collateral in derivatives markets, and adjusting regulations to support blockchain applications in the U.S. market.

Pham has made progress on the first two tasks and expects the last to be completed by August 2026.

November 3

The U.S. midterm elections will be held on November 3, and this election could dramatically alter the outlook for U.S. crypto policy.

The president has significant powers, but he is not a “king” — — the crypto industry’s victories in 2025 owe much to the Republican Party’s narrow control of both chambers of Congress.

If this situation changes in 2026, the “golden age” of crypto in Washington could come to an end.

The Democratic Party has indeed become more friendly toward crypto. In 2025, the Democratic support for the House Market Structure Bill exceeded that of 2024, a change that thrilled many crypto lobbyists.

However, many Democratic lawmakers remain cautious about this industry, which has a clear libertarian tilt.

If Democrats regain control of either or both chambers of Congress, the likelihood of passing any crypto legislation will be significantly reduced.

Fireblocks policy director Sea Markova recently said that if the passage of market structure legislation is too close to the midterm elections, “the overall risk of the bill stalling will increase significantly.”