US Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins is confident that a long-awaited crypto market structure bill could come to US President Donald Trump’s office for signature before the end of the year.
The SEC chief highlighted the ongoing efforts during an interview with Fox Business to clarify the rules surrounding digital asset trading and said the bill could provide much-needed guidance to investors and trading platforms.
Related reading
Atkins expresses his confidence
Atkins, who was confirmed by the Senate in April 2025 on a 52-44 vote, said tokenization and faster settlement systems are part of the next phase for US markets. He argued that a market structure law would give companies and investors clearer signals about which rules apply to trading in digital assets.
Reports have indicated that the President views the bill as in line with the administration’s efforts to make the US more competitive cryptocurrency.
This is a big week for crypto – Congress is on the cusp of upgrading our financial markets for the 21st century.
I fully support Congress providing clarity on the separation of jurisdiction between the SEC and the @CFTC. pic.twitter.com/NtDWRW85kL— Paul Atkins (@SECPaulSAtkins) January 12, 2026
Atkins discussed the regulatory forecast for crypto this year during an interview with Fox Business. Source: Paul Atkins
Calendar and opportunities of lawmakers
Based on reports from financial analysts, the path to passage is not guaranteed. One market note roughly estimated the bill’s chances of passing Congress in 2026 50-60%and warned that delays could push final action into 2027.
Other analysts have suggested a longer path, saying implementation of the final market structure rules may not be settled for years as political dynamics change.
What is being negotiated about
The draft measures under discussion aim to define which federal agency oversees different types of digital instruments, set standards for trading platforms that list tokens, and create clearer reporting rules for market participants.
Reports have indicated that committee increases are expected before a vote in the Senate, and that these sessions will determine the final text of the bill.
Industry response, market discussion
The optimism expressed by Atkins has been welcomed by industry bodies, as they see clear guidelines could lead to more institutional capital flowing into the onshore crypto trading space. On the other hand, the sentiment of many companies is that there is still some caution about future regulations.
While regulators continue to show some degree of agreement on overall regulations, the details of custody, the custody provider(s), and the division of supervision among the various regulatory agencies must be approved by Congress before any final progress can be made.
This back-and-forth between Congress and regulators has caused markets to respond in a pattern of rapid positive moves, followed by corresponding negative moves due to legislative inaction.
Related reading
Political timing can matter
The interim and committee calendars are closely monitored. If the Senate postpones key votes, the support that currently exists could diminish or be reshaped by other priorities.
Some commentators argue that quick action would hamper regulation brightness; Others say a hasty law could leave holes that need to be fixed later. The speed versus detail debate is active in Washington.
Featured image of Gemini, chart from TradingView