The United States may be entering a new phase in its long-running effort to establish clearer rules for the cryptocurrency industry, according to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.
Garlinghouse said the U.S. is now “closer than ever” to achieving regulatory clarity for digital assets, following recent discussions involving crypto companies, regulators and major players from traditional finance.
His comments came after the inaugural meeting of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Innovation Advisory Committee, held in Washington on August 20. The committee brought together executives from the crypto sector alongside major traditional financial institutions.
According to Garlinghouse, one of the most significant takeaways from the meeting was the level of agreement between the cryptocurrency industry and traditional finance, often referred to as TradFi.
He said participants broadly agreed that many of the financial rules written years ago were not designed for today’s digital-asset market and are no longer sufficient for consumers, businesses or innovation.
That consensus could be important because crypto regulation in the U.S. has remained a major point of uncertainty for companies operating in the sector.
Washington Is Taking a Different Approach
The latest developments suggest that U.S. regulators are increasingly trying to create rules specifically suited to digital assets rather than simply applying traditional financial regulations to crypto.
The SEC and CFTC have already taken steps toward clarifying how existing securities and commodities laws apply to certain crypto assets. In March 2026, the two agencies issued joint guidance aimed at reducing uncertainty around the treatment of various digital assets and transactions.
The CFTC has also established an Innovation Task Force focused on developing a clearer regulatory framework for crypto assets, blockchain technology and other emerging areas.
The CLARITY Act Remains Key
Despite the progress at the regulatory level, the industry is still waiting for Congress to deliver comprehensive legislation.
The CLARITY Act is designed to establish clearer boundaries between the SEC and CFTC and determine how different digital assets should be regulated. The legislation has passed the House but remains stalled in the Senate.
President Donald Trump has also publicly urged Congress to move forward with the bill, arguing that clearer rules would help maintain America’s position in financial and technological innovation.
If the U.S. succeeds in establishing a comprehensive framework, it could have significant consequences for the global cryptocurrency industry.
Clearer rules could make it easier for financial institutions to work with digital assets, give crypto companies greater certainty when developing products and potentially encourage more blockchain innovation to remain in the United States.
However, regulatory clarity has not yet been fully achieved. Much of the progress so far has come through regulatory action and guidance, while broader, long-term rules still depend on Congress.
For now, Garlinghouse’s message reflects growing optimism within the industry: after years of uncertainty, Washington may finally be moving toward a clearer rulebook for crypto.
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