TL;DR
- Trump confirms the Senate will pass a major crypto market structure bill.
- The CFTC will oversee digital commodities like Bitcoin; the SEC, digital securities.
- A 180-day registration window for brokers accelerates regulatory clarity.
Donald Trump recently confirmed that the Senate will soon approve a major cryptocurrency market structure bill. The announcement breaks years of legislative deadlock between the Treasury, SEC, and CFTC over who controls digital assets in the United States.
For years, the SEC and CFTC fought a quiet battle over jurisdiction. Both agencies claimed authority over digital coins, creating a regulatory void that left operators in legal limbo. Trump now pressures Congress to deliver a definitive solution.
📢BREAKING : 🇺🇸 President Trump says the #Crypto #Market Structure Bill is set to move forward soon.
Big developments ahead for the $crypto space. pic.twitter.com/1yn2giFXRL
— SmartViewAI.Com (@smartviewai) February 17, 2026
The House of Representatives already passed the S.3755/H.R.3633 bill under the name Digital Asset Market Clarity Act several months ago. The real barrier has always been the Senate. Last January, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved its own version, the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, in a tight 12 to 11 vote. The narrow margin reveals how much division still exists.
Major companies like Coinbase already voiced concerns. They criticized earlier drafts for being overly restrictive toward decentralized finance and stablecoin rules. Trump seeks to break the legislative deadlock and push the project toward final passage.
The New Regulatory Structure and How It Works
The bill clearly divides responsibilities. The CFTC assumes primary control over digital commodities like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The SEC retains authority over digital securities. That separation ends years of confusion.
After passage, brokers and exchanges have a 180-day window to register and obtain provisional status. Compared with the current limbo where many platforms operate, it represents a fast track toward regulatory clarity.
The bill also requires the SEC and CFTC to collaborate on new rules within 18 months. They must address complex areas including mixed transactions and margin structures.
Michael Selig, CFTC Chair, suggested that law could reach the President’s desk within months. That aligns with other efforts designed to integrate cryptocurrencies more deeply into traditional finance.
I'm excited to announce the members of the @CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee. The IAC’s broad financial sector insights will help the CFTC future-proof its markets and develop clear rules of the road for the Golden Age of American Financial Markets.https://t.co/vv0sC8Mr1v?
— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) February 12, 2026
February 28th marks a critical deadline. Before that date, the Senate Banking Committee must reconcile its version with the Agriculture Committee’s draft. It must also finalize stablecoin frameworks according to White House requirements.
Passage will likely trigger a repricing of assets classified as commodities, especially those affected by previous SEC lawsuits. However, obstacles remain. Congressional leaders continue pushing for investigations into Trump-linked ventures like WLFI. Political volatility will stay present even as regulation arrives.
