Story perspectives

SEC and CFTC Redefine Crypto Regulations in Major Shift

3/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

On March 17, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) jointly issued guidance on applying securities laws to cryptocurrencies.
The guidance classifies crypto assets into five groups: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, stablecoins, and digital securities.
It states that most cryptocurrencies are not securities, a shift from prior enforcement actions.
It signals a move toward a commodity-based regulatory model for the crypto industry.

History

Historical Context

In 2014, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) classified Bitcoin as a commodity, a stance reinforced in 2019 when the SEC clarified that both Bitcoin and Ethereum are not securities. This regulatory shift, following actions against numerous ICOs that incurred over $1.7 billion in penalties, aims to foster innovation in the evolving cryptocurrency market, which has seen significant growth and volatility since Bitcoin's inception in 2009.

1 of 2

Story summary

On March 17, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) jointly issued guidance on applying securities laws to cryptocurrencies.
The guidance classifies crypto assets into five groups: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, stablecoins, and digital securities.
It states that most cryptocurrencies are not securities, a shift from prior enforcement actions.
It signals a move toward a commodity-based regulatory model for the crypto industry.

1 / 2