2026 will be a regulatory-intensive year for the cryptocurrency industry.



In January, the Senate is expected to advance legislation hearings on market structure reforms, which is a significant move. At the same time, the SEC may introduce an "Innovation Exemption" mechanism to provide more flexible regulatory pathways for some emerging assets. This means that some project teams could gain more operational space.

The key milestone is in May—when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's term expires. Trump is likely to appoint a more lenient candidate, which could trigger a chain reaction in the risk asset market environment. A dovish Federal Reserve policy generally creates a more favorable macro backdrop for crypto assets.

By July, California's Digital Financial Assets Law will officially come into effect. This is an important state-level legislation, requiring industry participants to operate with licenses and further regulate market order. Also in mid-July, the agenda related to the Genius Act will be launched.

Behind these series of timelines, it reflects that US regulators are seeking a balance between crypto innovation and risk prevention. For project teams, exchanges, and investors, understanding these policy trends in advance is especially important.
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ShadowStakervip
· 11h ago
nah, the "innovation exemption" part is where it gets spicy... sounds nice on paper but we've seen this playbook before, haven't we?
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MoneyBurnerSocietyvip
· 11h ago
Wow, 2026 is the release date for the regulatory drama... I bet five bucks that the Fed changing personnel in May will become the trigger for the market explosion. By then, us negative alpha kings can finally breathe a sigh of relief haha. Innovation exemptions sound good, but I wonder if it will just be another "legal channel for harvesting retail investors"... Licensed operation is better, so even if I lose money, it’s justified. Really, understanding these trends in advance can help avoid pitfalls? I understood them early, and we're still near the liquidation price from the last bull market.
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FalseProfitProphetvip
· 12h ago
Hmm... So 2026 is a big year, feels like actions are coming one after another. --- The key is Powell stepping down and being replaced; only then will the Federal Reserve loosen and crypto truly take off. --- Innovation exemptions sound good, but don't celebrate too early; regulation is a deep game. --- California takes effect in July, still need licenses... is it the rhythm of going ashore again? --- Is it reliable to have a lenient faction sent over by Trump? Does what they say count? --- Wait, are these policies really beneficial to small coins, or are they just good for big projects? --- 2026 will be full of hearings; it feels like a year of conferences.
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BlockDetectivevip
· 12h ago
Wait, will it really be that smooth to replace the Federal Reserve Chair in May? I have a feeling Powell will still cause some trouble...
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rugpull_survivorvip
· 12h ago
Ha, "balance" again? Basically just the prelude to cutting leeks. --- Changing the Federal Reserve Chair in May is the real deal; only then will we know who’s truly swimming naked. --- Innovation exemptions sound nice, but they’re just a green light for big institutions. --- The California licensing set in July... small projects either die or go offshore, we’ll see. --- Intensive regulation period = institutions collecting chips, retail investors are still the ones getting cut. --- If this round really loosens up, can those who went all-in last time turn things around... not a big problem, right? --- Will Powell make a big move before stepping down? That’s the real key. --- Licensed operation is good; might as well just kick out all the small players. --- The January hearing must be watched closely; it will determine the trend for the first half of the year.
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