The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will host a joint public event on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, titled "SEC-CFTC Harmonization: U.S. Financial Leadership in the Crypto Era." The event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time at the CFTC headquarters in Washington, D.C., will be open to the public and livestreamed on both agencies' official websites.
The primary goal is to address overlapping and unclear crypto regulations that have created challenges for companies operating under U.S. law. In a joint statement, SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig stated, "For too long, market participants have been forced to navigate regulatory boundaries that are unclear in application and misaligned in design, based solely on legacy jurisdictional silos." They emphasized that the event builds on broader harmonization efforts to ensure innovation thrives "on American soil, under American law, and in service of American investors, consumers, and economic leadership."
The session will feature opening remarks from both chairs, followed by a fireside chat moderated by crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett. The discussion is expected to cover clearer rules for spot crypto markets, DeFi, tokenized assets, perpetual contracts, and the realities of 24/7 digital asset trading.
This coordinated effort is framed as a direct response to President Donald Trump's policy agenda and his promise to make the United States the "crypto capital of the world." It aligns with ongoing legislative efforts, such as the revised crypto market structure bill from the Senate Agriculture Committee (potentially the CLARITY Act), which aims to clearly define the regulatory roles of the SEC and CFTC for digital assets.
The event signals a deliberate shift toward transparency and coordination, marking a notable departure from years of jurisdictional tension and "regulation by enforcement" between the two agencies. Market observers view it as a potential turning point that could reduce compliance costs, encourage institutional participation, and help retain crypto innovation within U.S. borders.
