🇺🇸 One Rulebook to Rule Them All: SEC and CFTC Unite Under “Project Crypto” to Redefine U.S. Digital Asset Regulation

Washington is finally closing ranks on crypto.

In a move that could reshape how digital assets are policed in the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have formally merged their regulatory ambitions into a single initiative—Project Crypto. What began as an SEC-only modernization effort is now being recast as a joint federal framework for overseeing crypto markets end to end.

The message from regulators is clear: fragmentation is out, coordination is in.

The shift was confirmed this week in Washington, D.C., where SEC Chair Paul S. Atkins and CFTC Chair Michael S. Selig laid out the plan in speeches on January 29, 2026, followed by a detailed legal brief the next day.

Project Crypto, first launched in 2025 to help the SEC adapt to modern trading systems, will now operate as a shared rulebook governing:

Across both securities and commodities regulators.

Atkins called the expansion “one of the most ambitious initiatives between our two agencies in a generation,” emphasizing that the goal is not more regulation—but better regulation.

“We’re aiming for a minimum effective dose,” he said, “not two versions of the same rulebook.”

For years, crypto firms have complained about being caught between overlapping—and sometimes conflicting—rules from the SEC and CFTC. Project Crypto is designed to change that.

Under the new structure, the agencies will:

Selig framed the effort as a chance to finally move past institutional rivalries.

“This is about coordination, coherence, and a unified approach,” he said, calling Project Crypto a rare opportunity to end long-running turf battles that have clouded U.S. crypto oversight.

Officials confirmed that a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) is coming soon. The agreement will lock in:

The idea is durability—ensuring the framework survives future political and leadership changes.

Early priorities under Project Crypto include:

While Congress debates broader legislation, regulators say they can still deliver near-term clarity under existing law.

Project Crypto is rolling out under President Donald Trump, whose administration has installed new leadership at both agencies and made no secret of its desire to bring more crypto activity back onshore.

At the same time, regulators continue to urge Congress to pass the CLARITY Act and related market-structure bills. A recent industry analysis described the joint SEC–CFTC plan as an effort to eliminate “regulatory fragmentation” and keep U.S. markets competitive as other countries race to attract digital-asset firms.

Despite the significance of the announcement, the market reaction has been muted.

Traders have been far more focused on recent turbulence:

In short, macro stress—not regulatory reform—has dominated headlines.

Even if markets are ignoring it today, Project Crypto could prove transformative.

For the first time, the U.S. is moving toward a single, coordinated federal framework for digital assets—one that promises clearer definitions, fewer duplicative rules, and a more predictable environment for builders and institutions alike.

If successful, it may not just change how crypto is regulated in America—but whether the next generation of crypto companies chooses to build there at all.