The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has placed digital assets and distributed ledger technology at the top of its priority list in a newly released draft strategic plan for fiscal years 2026-2030. Beyond broad goals like capital formation, investor protection, and agency modernization, the draft dedicates a distinct section to digital assets. The agency aims to build a solid regulatory foundation through a consistent, principle-based, and rational approach.
Dedicated goals for the digital asset sector
The draft acknowledges that the rapid expansion of digital asset markets has outpaced existing regulations, fueling demands for greater legal clarity. The SEC recognizes blockchain and crypto asset technologies as transformative for U.S. financial infrastructure. It oversees securities issuance, broker-dealers, and exchanges. Tokenized securities offerings and on-chain financial infrastructure are cited as areas that can foster compliant capital formation.
Custody, trading, and staking addressed
The SEC outlines that custody, trading, and staking services must operate under proper regulatory oversight without overlapping or redundant requirements. The document stresses the need to supervise these services effectively while avoiding conflicting or duplicated regulatory burdens. This signals that staking may soon be explicitly classified as a securities-related activity under SEC jurisdiction.
SEC and CFTC: Clarifying regulatory boundaries
A key focus is clarifying the division of responsibilities between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). For years, the central question has been which agency oversees specific products and activities. The SEC states that building a coherent framework requires not only new rules but also resolving jurisdictional questions with the CFTC. The CFTC, as the federal regulator for derivatives and futures, has significant influence over products with commodity status.
Steps toward coordination are underway. In March 2026, the SEC and CFTC signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration and information sharing. Additionally, the proposed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, currently debated in Congress, depends on clear regulatory borders. The bill aims to create a comprehensive market structure for digital assets and would likely extend the CFTC’s authority over much of the market. It passed the Senate Banking Committee last month and now heads to a full Senate vote.