SEC Adds Three Crypto Rules to 2026 Agenda as US Regulatory Push Intensifies

SEC adds three crypto rules to 2026 regulatory agenda, signaling active framework building The SEC's 2026 Regulatory Agenda includes proposals for crypto asset offerings, broker-dealer financial responsibility rules, and market structure changes for digital asset trading venues. Chair Paul Atkins framed the move as part of establishing the US as the 'crypto capital of the world.' 12

CFTC Chair says Clarity Act is 'so close' as August deadline nears CFTC Chairman Michael Selig urged Congress to pass the crypto market-structure bill before the August recess, calling it critical for national competitiveness. The bill would split digital asset oversight between the CFTC and SEC, but disputes over ethics and stablecoin provisions remain. 3

EU plans to revise crypto rules in 2027 amid Trump's push for digital assets The European Commission announced a revision of its crypto regulatory framework, set for 2027, as the US accelerates its own rulemaking. The move aims to keep the EU competitive while maintaining investor protections under MiCA. 4

Russia eases crypto rules, drops wallet disclosure, caps retail investment at 300,000 rubles Russia's State Duma approved a revised crypto bill that removes the requirement to disclose wallet addresses and introduces a 48-hour delay on large foreign transfers. The Central Bank of Russia will oversee the law, effective September 1, 2026. 5

India's RBI backs crypto ban in new government submission, warns of tax evasion risks The Reserve Bank of India submitted views to the Union government supporting a ban on private cryptocurrencies, arguing regulation could grant the sector legitimacy. The Central Board of Direct Taxes separately flagged structural tax evasion risks from peer-to-peer transfers and decentralized platforms. 6

Bank of Korea doubles down on bank-led stablecoins as deposit token pilots advance The BOK reiterated its call for won-denominated stablecoins to be issued through bank-led consortiums, contributing to delays in South Korea's digital asset bill. The central bank also plans to expand deposit token use cases for government subsidies, vouchers, and EV charging. 7

USDC surpasses USDT in adjusted transaction volume for first time in Q2 2026 Circle's USDC reached ~$45–50 billion supply and overtook USDT in adjusted volume, driven by MiCA and GENIUS Act compliance. USDC is now the most commercially consequential stablecoin in regulated institutional finance. 8

Hyundai Motor Group completes real stablecoin cross-border settlement on Avalanche Hyundai Card moved $20,000 in USDT between US and Mexico subsidiaries in seven minutes via Avalanche, marking the first stablecoin remittance initiative led by a card company. A European trial with USDC and Visa is planned for late July. 9

Uniswap integrates Sky's LitePSM for zero-slippage stablecoin swaps The Stablecoin FX Layer initiative plugs Sky Ecosystem's LitePSM into Uniswap's routing engine, enabling fixed-rate swaps between USDS, DAI, and USDC. Spark migrated $150 million in USDS liquidity to Uniswap v4 pools, with a proposed $800 million USDC buffer. 10

Toss partners with Optimism to explore Korean won stablecoin in three-month PoC South Korea's largest fintech app signed an MOU with Optimism and Sunnyside Labs to test a KRW-pegged stablecoin on OP Stack. The proof of concept will assess throughput, compliance, and cost requirements for payment-grade stablecoins. 11

Ethereum ETF sponsors race toward mid-July debut as final filings stack up Multiple Ethereum ETF issuers are submitting final registration statements ahead of an expected mid-July launch. The SEC's approval of spot Ethereum ETFs is seen as a major milestone for institutional adoption of the second-largest cryptocurrency. 12