Major Crypto Regulation Updates Signal Changing US Policy

Recent developments in crypto regulation show Washington is finally taking clear action on digital assets.

Between late October and late November 2025, several government agencies released new guidance that could reshape how Americans interact with cryptocurrencies.

According to the latest a16z report, the most significant move came from two US senators who put forward a draft bill on digital asset market structure.

Chairman John Boozman and Senator Cory Booker are working together across party lines to create rules that would define how crypto fits into existing financial systems. This bipartisan effort matters because previous attempts at crypto legislation often stalled due to political disagreements.

New Tax Rules for Crypto Staking

The IRS also made an important announcement for investment trusts that want to stake their digital assets. Under the new safe harbor rules, these trusts can now earn staking rewards without losing their special tax status.

Before this guidance, many institutional investors worried that staking activities might trigger unwanted tax consequences. This change could open doors for pension funds and other large investors to participate in proof-of-stake networks.

SEC Charts New Crypto Regulation on Token Classification

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins outlined a fresh approach called “Project Crypto” that focuses on practical token categories.

I was honored to give the keynote at the @PhiladelphiaFed’s Ninth Annual Fintech Conference this morning. My remarks outlined the next steps in the @SECgov’s Project Crypto and what to expect in the coming months. pic.twitter.com/WI79ANJrfD

— Paul Atkins (@SECPaulSAtkins) November 12, 2025

Instead of treating every digital asset as a potential security, the framework recognizes three types that clearly aren’t securities: network tokens (like Bitcoin or Ethereum), digital collectibles (such as NFTs), and digital tools.

Atkins emphasized that investment contracts have endpoints. A token might start as a security when a company is raising funds, but it could become something else once the network matures and decentralizes.

This “lifecycle” view represents a major shift from previous SEC positions that treated tokens as permanent securities.

For crypto traders and businesses, these changes mean reduced uncertainty. Companies can now better understand when their tokens might fall outside securities laws.

The staking guidance gives institutional money a clearer path into the market. And the Senate draft signals that comprehensive legislation might actually happen in the coming months, providing the industry-wide clarity that markets have been waiting for since 2017.