2026: Will it be the decisive year for the crypto market crystal ball?

The Regulatory Crossroads That Define the Future of the Sector

The cryptocurrency industry reached 2025 in its best shape in years, with regulatory victories that seemed unthinkable just a short time ago. However, while celebrating these advances, sector leaders face a question that continues to haunt them: Will the bill regulating the structure of the crypto market finally become law, or will this opportunity slip away?

For months, passing a law on market structure has been the central obsession of crypto lobbyists in Washington. This legal framework would formally legitimize most token issuers and intermediaries in the United States, granting the sector the institutional credibility it has sought since its inception. But the initial optimism is beginning to face an uncomfortable reality: the Senate might run out of time to act before political agendas stall in spring 2026.

The Regulator’s Dilemma: Legitimate or Pragmatic?

Meanwhile, agencies like the SEC and CFTC are not remaining inactive. Under the leadership of Paul Atkins, the SEC has begun to unilaterally rewrite the rules of the crypto game, arguing that it has sufficient authority under laws such as the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

“We have quite broad exemption authority granted by Congress. That gives us a solid basis to act,” explains Atkins, who sees little urgency in waiting for additional legislation.

This aggressive regulatory move has produced a paradoxical effect: some industry leaders argue that there is no longer much pressure to pass a market structure law because regulators are achieving favorable changes anyway. These changes are “difficult to reverse under future administrations,” say supporters of this more patient stance.

Two Conflicting Visions

However, not everyone shares this optimistic interpretation of the status quo. Other sector experts issue a darker alarm: without clear legislation on market structure, the crypto industry would be exposed to future political volatility. Even more seriously, they warn, the industry would lose the opportunity to reshape the “general public perception” of cryptocurrencies, which millions of investors still see as an illegitimate casino.

“I cannot underestimate the importance of passing this legislation in 2026,” these leaders warn. They point out that although the current administration can alleviate many issues through regulation, it could never do so as effectively as a law passed by Congress.

The Cost of Indecision

The paradox is clear: regulators are winning battles that could be won without formal legislation, but the lack of a law on the crypto market exposes the sector to long-term political risks. The industry must choose between playing it safe by leveraging current regulatory changes or betting everything on comprehensive legislation that permanently legitimizes the crypto market.

What happens in 2026 will not just be another regulatory chapter. It will determine whether the crypto sector finally manages to transform its public image and secure irreversible institutional gains, or if it misses the historic window to do so.