The Avalanche Policy Coalition has established a new five-member global advisory council, led by Ava Labs General Counsel Lee Schneider, to directly influence international digital asset regulations in 2026. Schneider described the launch as a "watershed moment" for the ecosystem.
The council's three core priorities for the year are: First, to advocate for clear, globally synergistic rules for token classification to prevent assets from facing contradictory legal treatment as securities, commodities, or currencies across different countries. Second, to help governments precisely define and regulate crypto "intermediaries"—the platforms facilitating buying, selling, and holding—to avoid stifling innovation or creating unfair legal risks. Third, to protect global, open internet access, which is foundational to decentralized blockchain networks.
The council's formation coincides with a period of significant regulatory advancement worldwide. In the United States, lawmakers are building on the 2025 passage of the GENIUS Act, which created a federal stablecoin framework, to develop broader market structure legislation. The SEC and CFTC are concurrently modernizing rules for other digital assets.
In the European Union, the final implementation stages of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation are underway, with a deadline of July 1, 2026, for full authorization of all crypto service providers. The United Kingdom is developing its own regulatory regime set for full force in October 2027. Council member Lord Chris Holmes recently argued in the House of Lords for separating stablecoins from unbacked assets like Bitcoin in law to avoid stifling the UK industry.
Japan is preparing to reclassify crypto assets as "financial products" under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, subjecting them to traditional securities rules while considering a reduction in crypto gains tax from up to 55% to 20%.
