US regulators consider unified crypto framework in 2025

The U.S. regulators are exploring new avenues for coordinating cryptocurrency oversight, including discussions about reinstating an advisory committee.

The SEC and the CFTC are reportedly in talks to revive a joint advisory committee that has been inactive for over a decade, according to a February 13 report.

The CFTC-SEC Advisory Committee on Emerging Regulatory Issues, established in 2010, aimed to enhance coordination between the two agencies.

It was designed to identify risks, assess their impact, and ensure alignment but ceased operations in 2014 due to leadership changes and shifting priorities.

CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham advocated for its revival in 2024, emphasising it would signal a collaborative regulatory approach.

Concurrently, the SEC's new Crypto Task Force is considering public input on various digital asset topics.

Commissioner Hester Peirce, while critical of the SEC’s past handling of crypto, stated that the SEC wants to foster innovation and grant people the freedom to build "interesting things" and experiment, while also providing robust investor protections.

The congressional leaders with oversight of the SEC and CFTC stated at the press conference that they are helping to make good on the president’s promise to create a clear framework governing digital assets in the United States.

These discussions coincide with the White House's appointment of David Sacks as the "Crypto and AI Czar," signaling a push for clearer crypto regulations.

Sacks is planning to collaborate with Congress on market structure legislation.

The official schedule of the presidential working group on digital asset markets also indicates intentions to fast-track crypto regulation.

The U.S. Treasury, the Department of Justice, the SEC, and other relevant agencies are required to identify all laws relevant to cryptocurrencies and digital assets by the end of February.

In early February, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce defended her approach to cryptocurrency regulation, prioritising an innovation-friendly approach, rather than restrictive oversight.

She also clarified that she isn’t "an advocate of the industry," but more of a "freedom maximalist," pushing back against claims that she’s too supportive of crypto.