Key Insights:
- As per the latest crypto news, the US CFTC joins the SEC’s “Project Crypto” to unify rules and cut duplication.
- Senate panel moves legislation to clarify SEC vs. CFTC authority.
- CFTC eases event-contract stance; lawmakers flag understaffing.
Crypto News: On Jan. 29, 2026, Washington’s two main market watchdogs signaled a push toward closer coordination on digital-asset oversight.
The move matters because exchanges and token issuers have long had to navigate a patchwork of expectations split between agencies, often adding cost and uncertainty.
The US SEC and CFTC put that message on display through a public, hour-long session held at the CFTC’s headquarters in Washington.
The agencies carried the event on their official channels. They also opened the room to in-person attendees, with capacity limited to 265 seats, according to the CFTC.
Crypto News: The US SEC & CFTC Harmonization Event
According to the crypto news, the US SEC materials listed a 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET window on January 29, 2026. It started with an introduction from Atkins, followed by Selig’s opening remarks, then a fireside chat moderated by journalist Eleanor Terrett.
The CFTC’s release added logistical details that underscored the demand for crypto clarity: registration for in-person attendance was closed, the space was oversubscribed, and capacity stood at 265 with limited standing overflow.
When regulators spend political capital to appear side-by-side, firms typically interpret that as a cue to re-engage on filings, listings, and licensing paths that they previously shelved.
What Changed In Washington And Why Markets Care?
For years, the U.S. system has forced crypto firms to guess whether a product belongs under securities rules, commodity-derivatives rules, or both.
That uncertainty often shows up first in market structure decisions, not price charts: where platforms choose to list products, how they route customer orders, and whether they attempt to register at all.
Crypto news coverage has followed that dividing line because it affects liquidity and product availability.
On January 26, the US CFTC said it had rescheduled the joint session to January 29 and framed it as part of a broader push to align oversight. Besides, it delivers on President Donald Trump’s stated goal of making the United States the crypto capital of the world.
The agencies also put a simple message on the record. The US CFTC and SEC Chairs said that market participants have been forced to navigate regulatory boundaries that are unclear in application.
Besides, they also noted that the boundaries were misaligned in design, based solely on legacy jurisdictional silos.
A Closer Look into the Crypto News
The crypto news added that the event would build on broader harmonization efforts so innovation takes root on American soil, under American law, and in service of American investors, consumers, and economic leadership.
On September 2, 2025, staff from the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets and the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight and Division of Clearing and Risk announced a cross-agency initiative tied to the SEC’s Project Crypto and the CFTC’s Crypto Sprint.
Their joint statement said current law did not prohibit SEC- or CFTC-registered exchanges from facilitating trading of certain spot crypto asset products, and it said the divisions would promptly review filings and requests from venues seeking to offer them.
Atkins amplified the message in the CFTC’s release that day, calling the staff move a significant step forward in bringing innovation in the crypto asset markets back to America and saying market participants should have the freedom to choose where they trade spot crypto assets.
Prediction Markets Enter The Same Coordination Lane
The US CFTC news also spilled beyond crypto tokens into a closely related arena: event contracts and prediction markets, which blend retail speculation, derivatives design, and platform distribution.
In prepared remarks cited by Axios, Selig said it is time for clear rules and a clear understanding that the CFTC supports lawful innovation in these markets.
When the CFTC tightens its own rulebook in public, it strengthens the case that harmonization is no longer just an SEC-CFTC talking point.
This helps in streamlining reporting and data standards. As per crypto news, it also aligns capital and margin frameworks and sets up coordinated innovation exemptions using existing exemptive authority.
Atkins later argued the old division of labor fits a different era and said modern market complexity demands a harmonized approach.