The SEC and CFTC Say They Will Write Crypto Rules Without Congress. What Atkins and Selig Can Actually Do for XRP and Bitcoin. - finance.yahoo.com

The reported stance by the SEC and CFTC that they can advance crypto rulemaking without new congressional legislation marks a notable shift in how U.S. regulators may approach digital assets. Rather than waiting on Capitol Hill, the agencies appear willing to use existing authority to bring clearer expectations to a market that has long operated in a gray area.

For assets like XRP and Bitcoin, the practical relevance lies in process rather than price. Agency-led rulemaking could mean formal guidance, registration pathways, or enforcement frameworks that reduce ambiguity for exchanges, issuers, and institutional participants. Bitcoin, generally treated as a commodity, and XRP, whose status has been shaped by litigation, could both be affected by how the two agencies divide oversight.

What to watch: whether these statements translate into formal proposals, how the SEC and CFTC coordinate to avoid conflicting rules, and whether courts or Congress push back. Until actual rules are published, the announcement signals direction — not a settled regulatory outcome.