The US crypto regulatory landscape may see a turning point in 2026, with increased collaboration between the SEC and CFTC.

According to Odaily Odaily, as the Trump administration enters its second year, the landscape of cryptocurrency regulation in the United States is undergoing significant changes. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is pushing forward with a more aggressive cryptocurrency regulatory agenda, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is playing an increasingly central role in the regulation of crypto assets, and the previous "regulatory power struggle" between the two has eased.

The report states that the acting chairman of the CFTC has previously made it clear that the phase of regulatory disagreements with the SEC has ended and that future cooperation will be strengthened. Over the past year, the two agencies have jointly issued guidance covering key areas such as spot crypto trading, 24/7 markets, perpetual contracts, and decentralized finance. Howard Fischer, a former SEC official and now a partner at the law firm Moses & Singer, noted that this was the most cooperative phase he could recall between the two regulatory bodies.

In terms of concrete actions, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins introduced a "token classification system" and launched "Project Crypto," aiming to systematically update digital asset regulatory rules while promoting an "innovation exemption" mechanism to accelerate the adoption of compliant crypto products. The SEC also approved listing standards for some crypto ETFs and clarified that liquid staking and PoS staking activities do not constitute securities transactions. Furthermore, tokenization has become one of the SEC's regulatory priorities, and its recent "no-action letter" to the Depository Trust Company (DTC) is seen by the industry as a significant pilot signal for the tokenization of real-world assets.

Meanwhile, the CFTC expedited rule clarification through the "Crypto Sprint," allowing exchanges to list regulatory-approved spot crypto products and withdrawing some restrictive guidance. New CFTC Chairman Michael Selig is expected to push for a CFTC-led crypto regulatory framework at the legislative level. Saga CEO Rebecca Liao stated that if the CFTC focuses on Bitcoin, an asset explicitly classified as a commodity, it will have a significant stimulating effect on the entire crypto market.

The report also points out that both the SEC and CFTC are currently facing vacant commissioner seats, but analysts believe this will not change the overall trend of crypto regulation moving towards greater coordination and institutionalization by 2026. (The Block)