Key Takeaways
What are the key policies that have shaped crypto in 2025?
Trump-backed regulatory rollbacks and the stablecoin bill (the GENIUS Act).
What to expect in 2026?
Passage of the market structure bill, tokenization, and more directives involving stablecoins could dominate in 2026.
It’s hard to rule out the influence of President Donald Trump on the crypto market. From reversing the Biden-era ‘regulation by enforcement’ to pushing for clarity, Trump’s pro-crypto stance offered the much-needed relief.
In July, Trump signed into law the first crypto bill for stablecoins, or the GENIUS Act.
He also instructed key regulators, namely the SEC, CFTC, and the Fed, amongst others, to harmonize regulations to accommodate crypto.
The results? A potential crypto market structure bill and a foundation that could be far-reaching from 2026 onwards, according to most analysts.
Key potential policy shifts in 2026
Although the stablecoin bill was passed smoothly, the broader market structure bill, which covers other players like DeFi platforms, has been marred with disagreements.
The Trump Administration had initially set a December deadline for the bill, the CLARITY Act.
Unfortunately, Polymarket was pricing only an 18% chance of passage by December. However, for Bitwise CEO Matt Hougan, the bill could be finalized by early 2026.
He added that the market was “underestimating” potential catalysts in late 2025 and 2026.
Source: X
In addition, Hougan projected that the tokenization boom, alongside stablecoin growth, could juice the markets.
For the unfamiliar, the SEC and CFTC are crafting rules to help guide how capital markets can be onboarded on-chain for broader access and efficiency.
From tokenized stocks, ETFs, to private credit, the Trump Administration is determined to make America the “crypto capital of the world.”
Further directives from the regulators could begin rolling in by year-end or early 2026.
Unsurprisingly, key players are already sizing up the expected boom. Issuers like Robinhood and Ondo [ONDO] are doubling down on tokenized products.
However, others like Fundstrat’s CIO Tom Lee have opted for an aggressive Ethereum corporate treasury to capture the potential growth in stablecoin and tokenization.
Other policy moves, like a Bitcoin strategic reserve, could also be featured in 2026. But the main focus will likely be stablecoins.
The Administration views it as a key way to service its debt, as U.S. Treasury bills must fully back the stablecoins issued.
As of writing, Tether, the issuer of USDT stablecoin, now ranks as the 17th largest U.S. T-bill holder.
Source: X