Wednesday, October 7, 2026
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Regulation and who is in charge

The agencies and laws that govern crypto in the United States and abroad.

13 guides, in reading order

  1. Who regulates crypto in the United States?No single agency regulates crypto in the US. The SEC, CFTC, Treasury, bank regulators, the IRS and the states each oversee a part of it.2 min read
  2. What does the SEC do in crypto?The SEC polices US securities markets. In crypto it decides which tokens count as securities, oversees crypto funds and pursues investment fraud.2 min read
  3. What does the CFTC do in crypto?The CFTC regulates futures and other derivatives. It treats bitcoin and ether as commodities and can pursue fraud in spot crypto markets.2 min read
  4. Is crypto a security? The Howey test explainedSome crypto is a security and much is not. US law uses the 1946 Howey test, which asks whether buyers expect profit from the work of others.2 min read
  5. What is the GENIUS Act?The GENIUS Act is the 2025 US law that sets federal rules for stablecoins, including who may issue them and what reserves must back them.2 min read
  6. What is the CLARITY Act?The CLARITY Act is a US bill to split crypto oversight between the SEC and CFTC. It passed the House but failed a Senate vote in September 2026.2 min read
  7. What is MiCA? The EU crypto rules explainedMiCA is the European Union's single rulebook for crypto. It licenses crypto companies and sets reserve and disclosure rules for stablecoins.2 min read
  8. Who regulates crypto in the UK?The Financial Conduct Authority is the UK's main crypto regulator. A full authorization regime is due to begin on October 25, 2027.2 min read
  9. Is cryptocurrency legal?Yes, in most countries. Owning and trading crypto is legal in the US, UK and EU under set rules, but some countries, including China, ban it.2 min read
  10. Crypto and anti-money-laundering rules: FinCEN, KYC and the travel ruleCrypto businesses must follow anti-money-laundering law. They identify customers, report suspicious activity and pass on sender details with transfers.2 min read
  11. Can banks hold crypto? The OCC and trust chartersYes. US national banks may hold crypto for customers, and the OCC has granted trust bank charters to crypto firms. A lawsuit now challenges that.2 min read
  12. State crypto rules: money transmitter licenses and the BitLicenseMost US states require crypto businesses to hold a money transmitter license. New York and California have separate crypto-specific licenses.2 min read
  13. How crypto is regulated around the worldMost major economies now license crypto companies instead of banning them. The EU, UK, Japan, Singapore and others each take a different route.2 min read