What it is
A market structure bill for digital assets is a legislative proposal aimed at providing comprehensive regulatory clarity for the crypto industry in the United States. These bills typically seek to define which digital assets are securities and which are commodities, assigning clear jurisdictional authority to either the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), or establishing a new framework.
Examples include the FIT21 Act, which passed the House in 2024. These bills attempt to resolve the "security vs. commodity" debate, reduce regulatory fragmentation, and foster innovation by providing a predictable legal environment. However, they face significant political hurdles to become law, requiring bipartisan consensus and passage through both chambers of Congress.
Why it matters
Market structure bills could bring much-needed clarity to crypto regulation, impacting how digital assets are traded, issued, and invested in the US.
Reviewed under editorial standardsUpdated September 26, 2026Not investment advice