The U.S. Senate Banking Committee is making its position crystal clear: the future of digital assets will be built in the United States, not abroad. Driven by Committee Chair Tim Scott and backed by the Trump administration, this vision is materializing through major legislative efforts aimed at establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
Tim Scott: « Making America the Crypto Capital of the World »
Senator Tim Scott, heading the Senate Banking Committee since early 2025, has made digital asset regulation one of his absolute priorities. On January 10, 2026, he announced a committee vote on comprehensive legislation addressing the digital asset market structure.
« This legislation aims to make America the crypto capital of the world — so that the next generation of jobs and innovation is built here, not abroad. When we establish clear rules, we give entrepreneurs the confidence they need to build companies, hire workers, and grow right here in the United States. »
He added that clear rules would also « make it harder for criminals and foreign adversaries to use new technology to defraud Americans or undermine our financial system. »
The CLARITY Act: America’s Legislative Cornerstone
At the heart of this ambition is the CLARITY Act (Digital Asset Market Clarity Act), bipartisan legislation designed to create a federal regulatory framework for the entire digital asset market. The House of Representatives passed this bill with bipartisan support in July 2025.
Key Provisions of the CLARITY Act
- Classification of Digital Assets: Defines when a crypto token qualifies as a security, commodity, or other category
- Regulatory Authority Split: The CFTC would oversee spot markets for cryptocurrencies, while the SEC maintains jurisdiction over centralized asset structures
- Registration and Compliance: Clear requirements for exchanges, brokers, and other crypto entities operating in the U.S.
- Stablecoin Regulation: Prohibits crypto companies from paying interest to consumers simply for holding stablecoins, while allowing rewards tied to specific actions
However, the legislative path hasn’t been smooth. On January 15, 2026, the scheduled committee vote was postponed after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong declared the bill had « too many problems. » Meanwhile, the Senate Agriculture Committee voted on January 29, 2026, to advance its own version, keeping the legislative momentum alive.
Massive Support from the Trump Administration
Scott Bessent: « America’s Digital Frontier is Open Again »
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed confidence in CLARITY Act adoption before spring 2026. During his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on February 4, 2026, Bessent emphasized the strategic choice facing the United States: either develop American private-sector digital assets with best-practice regulation, or cede ground to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) developed in Europe and elsewhere.
« America’s digital frontier is open again. Launch your businesses here. Deploy your protocols here. And hire your workers here. »
Back in July 2025, Bessent set the tone with a speech titled « Building the Golden Age of Crypto. » The presidential working group’s report on digital assets included over 100 regulatory and legislative actions covering anti-money laundering, crypto taxation, and modernized banking regulation.
Paul Atkins (SEC): A Federal Framework Long Overdue
On February 12, 2026, SEC Chair Paul Atkins testified before the Senate Banking Committee, explicitly endorsing the CLARITY Act:
« I support Congressional efforts to enact the CLARITY Act. Upon its passage, the Commission stands ready to implement this historic legislation. A federal framework for crypto markets is long overdue. »
Under the direction of Commissioner Hester Peirce and the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, the agency has provided « more clarity in one year than in the previous decade. » The agency announced a joint launch with the CFTC of « Project Crypto, » an initiative to establish a taxonomy of tokens and exemptions allowing market participants to operate on blockchains.
As part of « Project Crypto, » the SEC has already issued key guidance:
- Mining, staking, and liquid staking do not constitute securities offerings
- Stablecoins are not securities
- Meme coins are classified as « collectibles, » not securities
- An « innovation exemption » is being developed to allow companies to test new models under a lighter regulatory regime
A Dedicated Digital Assets Subcommittee: A Historic First
In a major advancement, the Senate created its first-ever subcommittee dedicated to digital assets in January 2026. Senator Cynthia Lummis, known for pro-crypto positions, was appointed as chair.
This subcommittee reflects two complementary approaches: the Banking Committee’s focus on market structure and the Agriculture Committee’s focus on derivatives regulation and CFTC oversight. This dual structure reveals regulatory tensions that need resolving.
Reconciling the Differences
The two Senate committees aren’t fully aligned on regulatory priorities. Senator John Boozman, Agriculture Committee Chair, expressed optimism about compromise: « I believe we’ll reach an agreement that satisfies both sides. It may not be exactly what each camp wants, but the goal is finding a solution acceptable to all. »
Why the U.S. Wants to Keep Crypto at Home
America’s ambition to become the « global crypto capital » responds to several major strategic imperatives:
Economic Competitiveness
More than 55 million Americans participate in the crypto economy, representing a market worth over $3.3 trillion. This is a major economic sector that U.S. authorities don’t want to lose.
Attracting Talent and Business
Regulatory uncertainty in previous years drove many crypto companies to migrate to friendlier jurisdictions. Clear regulatory rules could reverse this brain drain and capital flight.
Financial Sovereignty
Facing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) being developed in Europe and China, the United States is betting on private stablecoins backed by the dollar to strengthen the greenback’s dominance in global financial markets.
National Security
A clear regulatory framework enables better combat against money laundering and terrorist financing while preserving innovation in the digital asset sector.
Outlook: A Decisive Spring 2026
The timeline is accelerating. Treasury Secretary Bessent has set spring 2026 as the target for CLARITY Act adoption. The SEC and CFTC have launched an « Harmonization Initiative » to eliminate redundant and conflicting regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, agencies are developing a clear taxonomy of digital assets to reduce regulatory ambiguity.
If enacted, the legislation would represent the most comprehensive federal regulatory framework ever established for cryptocurrencies in the United States, ending over a decade of legal uncertainty and confirming America’s determination to dominate the global digital asset industry.
Sources: Reuters, CNBC, SEC.gov, U.S. Treasury, KuCoin News, CrowdFund Insider, Coin Academy, Journal du Coin, TRM Labs, The Conference Board, Politico.
