Trump regulators forge ahead with crypto rules amid Senate holdups

The Hill
by Julia Shapero
March 23, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Trump regulators are moving forward with cryptocurrency rules defining whether tokens are securities despite Senate holdups.

How This Affects You

The SEC guidance could determine whether crypto tokens you own are treated as securities, affecting tax treatment and trading regulations.

AI Summary

The SEC is advancing cryptocurrency rules that would clarify whether digital tokens qualify as securities subject to agency oversight, moving unilaterally while the Senate weighs its own regulatory approach. The regulator issued guidance last week to establish clearer jurisdictional boundaries for the crypto industry, addressing a longstanding legal ambiguity that has hampered market participants' compliance efforts. By proceeding independently, the Trump administration's financial regulators are effectively shaping crypto policy before Congress acts, potentially narrowing the scope of legislative options available to lawmakers. The SEC's move signals the administration's intent to establish regulatory clarity through executive action rather than wait for legislative solutions that face procedural delays in the Senate. Crypto firms have long sought definitive rules on token classification, as the lack of clear standards has created legal and operational uncertainty across the industry.

What's Being Done

The SEC issued guidance clarifying what will fall under its cryptocurrency regulatory jurisdiction.

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