Key Insights
- The GENIUS Act, which was approved under the Trump administration, sets a July 18 deadline for final stablecoin regulations.
- A new “Crypto 2.0 Task Force” at the SEC is also replacing lawsuits with a collaboration-first approach.
- The US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is now managing over 200,000 BTC as a national asset.
The first year of Donald Trump’s second term has moved very quickly.
The crypto industry is no longer fighting just to exist in the United States anymore, as it did under Joe Biden and Gary Gensler.
Instead; it is helping to write more accommodating rules that will affect its future.
Related: How to Become a Crypto Millionaire in 2026?
Trump Policy Makes 2026 a Defining Year
Everything started changing right after the inauguration last year. President Trump signed an order to promote and protect digital asset innovation soon after, and this replaced the previous focus on “responsible development”.
One of the biggest changes was the end of “regulation by enforcement.” Last year, the SEC stopped prioritising large lawsuits against firms like Coinbase. Instead, it launched a new “Crypto 2.0 Task Force” led by Commissioner Hester Peirce.
Another major pillar of this era is the US Digital Asset Stockpile. This stockpile was created in March of last year and treats Bitcoin as a strategic national asset.
The US government now holds roughly 200,000 BTC taken from past legal cases. Rather than selling these coins at auction, the Treasury now keeps them as a hedge.
The July Deadline for the GENIUS Act Stablecoin Rules
If last year was about clearing the air, the current one is about building the foundation. The GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins) is a central part of this.
It was signed in the middle of last year, and gave regulators one year to finish the rulebook. This means that by July 18, the Federal Reserve and the OCC must release final standards for reserve requirements.
When this happens, the new rules will decide who can legally issue a stablecoin in America.
This deadline is a huge moment for Wall Street banks. If the rules are clear, giants like BNY Mellon and State Street could begin issuing their own tokens.
Projections indicate that the regulated stablecoin market could grow past $500 billion by the end of the year. This would bring digital dollars into the heart of the traditional banking system.
It also removes the “regulatory fog” that has haunted firms like Circle and Tether for years.
A Defining Year for Legal Clarity
The Senate is expected to hold a final vote on the FIT21 Market Structure Bill this January.
This bill is often called the “Holy Grail” for crypto firms because It provides a specific formula to tell if a token is a security or a commodity. Under the current rules in the bill; over 80% of existing tokens would likely fall under the CFTC’s lighter oversight.
This would end the long-standing turf war between different government agencies.
New SEC Chair Paul Atkins has also proposed an “Innovation Exemption” for the current year.
This would give startups a three-to-five-year “safe harbour” period. During this time, they can launch new protocols without fear of immediate fines. Moreover, as long as they are transparent and avoid fraud, they can test their tech in the real world. This is a major departure from the last ten years of uncertainty across the market.
Disclaimer: BFM Times acts as a source of information for knowledge purposes and does not claim to be a financial advisor. Kindly consult your financial advisor before investing.
