A United Front on Crypto: SEC and CFTC Signal a New Era as America Pushes to Become the World’s Crypto Capital

For years, the U.S. crypto industry has operated in a fog—caught between overlapping rules, conflicting interpretations, and a prolonged turf war between its two most powerful financial regulators. That fog may finally be lifting.

On January 27, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael Selig will take the stage together for a rare joint event aimed at regulatory harmonization and a bold ambition: positioning the United States as the global capital of crypto innovation.

Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET at CFTC headquarters and broadcast live on the SEC’s website, the event represents far more than a panel discussion. It signals a fundamental shift in how Washington plans to oversee—and embrace—digital assets.

In a joint statement announcing the event, Atkins and Selig didn’t mince words.

“For too long, market participants have been forced to navigate regulatory boundaries that are unclear in application and misaligned in design,” they said, pointing directly at legacy jurisdictional silos that have slowed innovation and confused compliance.

The January gathering builds on momentum from a historic September 29 roundtable, where both agencies publicly declared an end to their long-running jurisdictional conflict. CFTC Commissioner Caroline Pham famously told attendees that “the turf war is over,” while Atkins called the moment “a turning point for American financial markets.”

That roundtable brought together heavyweights from across the financial and crypto spectrum—Kraken, Polymarket, Kalshi, Nasdaq, CME Group, and Robinhood—underscoring the industry’s hunger for coordinated oversight.

The message now is clear: the SEC and CFTC are no longer competing referees. They’re aiming to be partners.

The upcoming event will feature:

Doors open at 9:30 a.m., but the real action lies in what the event represents—a preview of how crypto regulation may finally operate with clarity instead of conflict.

The timing is no coincidence. Both agencies have undergone leadership changes that have dramatically altered their tone on crypto.

After assuming the SEC chairmanship in April following Gary Gensler’s departure, Atkins moved quickly away from enforcement-first regulation.

The numbers tell the story:

Rather than regulating by lawsuit, the SEC is now signaling a preference for rules, guidance, and predictability.

Michael Selig took over the CFTC on December 22, and he wasted no time. One of his first moves was launching the Future-Proof initiative, a sweeping review of decades-old regulations to accommodate blockchain, AI-driven trading, and prediction markets.

“We are at a unique moment as a wide range of novel technologies, products, and platforms are emerging,” Selig said after his swearing-in. “Under my leadership, the CFTC will conquer these great frontiers and ensure that the innovations of tomorrow are Made in America.”

It’s a clear signal that the agency sees crypto not as a threat—but as a competitive advantage.

While regulators align, Congress is racing on a parallel track.

On the same day as the Atkins–Selig event, the Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to mark up its Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act at 3 p.m. ET. The timing is tight—and symbolic.

Chairman John Boozman has acknowledged that disagreements remain, particularly with Democrats who have yet to publicly support the bill. Unlike the House Agriculture Committee’s overwhelming 47–6 bipartisan vote, the Senate markup could proceed along party lines.

Meanwhile:

Despite the friction, optimism remains.

At Davos 2026, President Trump confirmed he expects to sign crypto market structure legislation “very soon,” reiterating his administration’s commitment to keeping America the crypto capital of the world.

The January 27 joint event isn’t just another regulatory meeting. It’s a signal that U.S. regulators are preparing for whatever framework Congress ultimately delivers—and that they intend to implement it together.

For an industry long paralyzed by uncertainty, this alignment could be transformative:

After years of fragmentation, the SEC and CFTC are presenting a united front. And for crypto builders, investors, and consumers alike, that unity may finally turn regulatory confusion into competitive strength.

If this is what harmonization looks like, the race to make America the global crypto capital has officially begun.