Trump agencies to set crypto policy as bill stalls, limiting industry's gains

The Trump administration’s agencies are poised to play a larger role in shaping U.S. cryptocurrency policy as legislation sought by the industry stalls, Reuters reported. The shift would leave key regulatory questions to executive-branch bodies rather than Congress, limiting the breadth and durability of gains crypto companies had hoped to secure through a bill.

Federal agencies can influence digital-asset markets through rulemaking, enforcement priorities, guidance and decisions about how existing laws apply. Those actions can clarify parts of the regulatory landscape, but they do not carry the same status as legislation enacted by Congress and can be revisited by later administrations or challenged in court.

The stalled bill underscores the continued uncertainty around a comprehensive U.S. framework for crypto assets. Industry participants have long sought clearer treatment for areas including oversight, market structure and the division of responsibilities among regulators. With legislation delayed, the direction of policy will depend more heavily on how Trump administration agencies use their existing authority.