Crypto & Digital Assets · United States
Is crypto legal in United States? Regulation & rules (2026)
DevelopingNo single federal license; a two-tier system: federal AML registration with FinCEN as a Money Services Business (Bank Secrecy Act, 31 CFR 1010/1022) plus state-by-state money transmitter licensing (with specialized regimes in NY (BitLicense) and CA (DFAL)). Securities/commodities oversight is split between the SEC and CFTC; comprehensive federal market-structure legislation (CLARITY Act) is still pending as of May 2026.Country index 64 · C+
United States shaded by its crypto & digital assets status
The U.S. has no unified VASP license. Crypto exchanges must register federally with FinCEN as MSBs/money transmitters for AML purposes and separately obtain money transmitter licenses in nearly every state (New York's BitLicense and California's DFAL being purpose-built crypto regimes). Federal market-structure rules dividing SEC vs. CFTC authority remain unsettled: a March 2026 joint SEC/CFTC interpretation clarified asset classification, but the CLARITY Act establishing exchange registration categories was still moving through the Senate as of May 2026.
Timeline - major decisions & events
May 29, 2026decision
U.S. regulator says 24/7 trading is great for crypto, may not be fit for other sectorsCoinDesk Policy ↗May 29, 2026decision
U.S. CFTC opens crypto 'perp' door with first approvals at Kalshi, CoinbaseCoinDesk Policy ↗May 29, 2026lawofficial
Commission Staff Confirms the Categorization of Certain Crypto Asset Perpetuals as Foreign Futures and Issues No-Action Letter Regarding FCM Transfers of Customer Crypto Assets to Foreign Brokers as MarginUS CFTC Press ↗May 29, 2026decision
Bitcoin slides to April lows as crypto diverges from record-chasing U.S. equitiesCoinDesk Policy ↗May 28, 2026enforcement
U.S. CFTC files request to erase Gemini settlement that it no longer considers fairCoinDesk Policy ↗May 23, 2026decision
New rule requires most green-card applicants to apply from outside U.S.Hacker News (front page) ↗May 22, 2026decision
SEC Delays Tokenized Stocks Innovation Exemption Amid Concerns: BloombergDecrypt ↗May 22, 2026decision
SEC delays tokenized asset exemption amid concerns over third-party tokens: Bloomberg LawThe Block ↗May 22, 2026decision
SEC Commissioner Peirce counters views that crypto rule will foster synthetic tokensCoinDesk ↗May 22, 2026decision
Crypto, Banks, Policy Experts Press Congress to Modernize Bank Secrecy ActDecrypt ↗May 22, 2026decision
OKX, ICE partner on oil perps as NYSE-parent pressures US regulators to rein in HyperliquidThe Block ↗May 22, 2026decision
Congress hits Polymarket and Kalshi with a massive insider trading probeCoinDesk ↗May 21, 2026decision
Coinbase introduces thematic perps tracking China, AI and US national security equity indexesThe Block ↗May 21, 2026decision
US Government Makes $2 Billion Bet on Quantum Computing as Threat to Bitcoin GrowsDecrypt ↗May 21, 2026decision
Crypto prediction markets are turning into dangerous national security risks, and Congress wants to ban themCoinDesk ↗May 21, 2026decision
U.S. CFTC secures deal with National Hockey League on prediction market safeguardsCoinDesk ↗May 21, 2026decisionofficial
SEC and NFA Announce Memorandum of Understanding to Further Harmonize Regulatory CoordinationSEC Press Releases ↗May 19, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Proposes Transformative Reforms to Help Public Companies Conduct Registered Offerings and Simplify Reporting RequirementsSEC Press Releases ↗May 18, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Rescinds Policy Regarding Denials of Settlements in Enforcement ActionsSEC Press Releases ↗May 7, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Charges 21 Individuals With Alleged Wide-Reaching Insider Trading SchemeSEC Press Releases ↗May 5, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Divisions of Investment Management and Corporation Finance Issue Staff Guidance Supporting Retirement Plans for Small BusinessesSEC Press Releases ↗May 5, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Proposes Amendments to Permit Optional Semiannual Reporting by Public CompaniesSEC Press Releases ↗Apr 30, 2026decisionofficial
Deputy Director of Enforcement Jason Burt to Conclude His Tenure at the SECSEC Press Releases ↗Apr 20, 2026decisionofficial
SEC and CFTC Jointly Propose Amendments to Reduce Private Fund Reporting BurdensSEC Press Releases ↗Apr 16, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Small Business Advisory Committee to Explore Ways to Encourage More IPOsSEC Press Releases ↗Apr 16, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Seeks Public Comment on the Consolidated Audit Trail and Other Audit Trails and Data SourcesSEC Press Releases ↗Apr 15, 2026decisionofficial
SEC Approves Exemptive Order and Proposed Rule Change to Permit Customer Cross-Margining in the U.S. Treasury MarketSEC Press Releases ↗United States - other topics
Last verified 5/23/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →