Panelists at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium emphasized that the United States still has time to align its crypto regulatory frameworks with those of other regions, cautioning that inaction may result in stagnation and the US lagging behind other nations.
“I don’t think it’s too late, even with the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) in the European Union (EU),” stated Sylvia Favretto, general counsel and corporate secretary at Mysten Labs, the developer of the Sui network, said.
However, she mentioned that the window of opportunity is “small” and advocated for immediate action. Stuart Alderoty, chief legal officer at Ripple, remarked:
“If we seize on the opportunity now and establish the right market structure, I believe we will succeed. Conversely, if we fail to establish the right market structure and revert to a more hostile policy or regulatory environment, I see a very credible risk that we will fall behind the EU, APAC, or possibly the Middle East.”
Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, a crypto advocacy group, cautioned that the journey toward regulatory clarity “could be a lengthy process,” as US lawmakers and regulatory officials strive for a consensus on cohesive crypto policy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Related: Key Republican senator anticipates Democratic backing for US crypto market structure bill
The window of opportunity for crypto clarity in the US is shrinking
The 2024 US elections granted Republicans control of the Executive Branch and both chambers of Congress, providing the Trump administration significant latitude in advancing pro-crypto regulatory measures.
However, the Republican Party achieved a slim margin of Congressional majority, which has diminished since 2024.
Republicans hold a majority of seven seats in the House of Representatives and maintain an eight-seat majority in the Senate heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Joe Doll, general counsel at the non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace Magic Eden, informed Cointelegraph that the Trump administration has only two years to implement significant crypto regulations.
Doll noted that power dynamics usually shift to the opposing party during midterm elections and warned that a gridlocked legislature could hinder crypto regulatory efforts in the US.
Marta Belcher, board president of the Blockchain Association, echoed Doll’s concerns, adding that passing regulatory policy through the legislature is particularly challenging in the lead-up to midterm election years, as representatives prioritize their re-election campaigns.
Magazine: Crypto voters are already influencing the 2024 election — and it’s expected to persist
