Republicans Take Full Control of SEC and CFTC: US Crypto Regulation Pivot 2026

The era of bipartisan gridlock at U.S. financial regulators is over. As of January 5, 2026, the SEC and CFTC are now run exclusively by pro-crypto Republicans. This seismic shift marks a new chapter for the digital asset industry, as the oversight agencies move from enforcement to enablement.

The US SEC CFTC Crypto Regulation 2026 Landscape

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) bid farewell to its last Democratic commissioner, Caroline Crenshaw, last week. Her departure removes the primary internal opposition to Chairman Paul Atkins' pro-industry agenda. Meanwhile, at the CFTC, Trump nominee Mike Selig now stands as the sole commissioner, following Caroline Pham's exit to the private sector.

Legislative Gridlock vs. Regulatory Speed

Despite the agencies' fast-track approach, the U.S. Senate remains divided. Democrats are conditioning their support for a comprehensive crypto market structure bill on the appointment of their party's nominees to the commissions. Donald Trump has been evasive about filling these vacancies, questioning whether Democrats would do the same for Republicans.

In the absence of new laws, Atkins and Selig are acting independently. The SEC has already deprioritized enforcement actions, focusing instead on clarifying rules for staking, custody, and memecoins. This regulatory clarity is what institutional investors have been demanding for years.