As followers of this newsletter are likely aware, the US Congress has been engaged in discussions on market structure legislation over the past few months. However, crypto policy encompasses a wide range of issues beyond this, including taxation, decentralized finance regulations, the upcoming midterm elections, and more.

The Consensus Miami conference, scheduled to take place next month, will delve into each of these topics in depth. This newsletter explores the intersection of cryptocurrency and government. To receive future editions, click here to sign up.

Conversations in Miami As noted previously, significant policy changes surrounding digital assets have become increasingly important. Last year, US President Donald Trump signed the first substantial crypto-specific legislation, marking a shift in regulators' approach to enforcement actions. Congress has been debating the finer details of issues like stablecoin yield treatment.

In essence, the crypto industry has gained recognition. Although this was also true last year, the crypto industry, fresh from its electoral wins in 2024, saw bitcoin's price soar to over $120,000, and legislation seemed imminent.

This year, however, crypto prices have been largely stagnant due to broader economic stresses, and time is running out for Congress to pass market structure legislation in its current form. Despite this, regulators have begun proposing rules for stablecoin companies based on the GENIUS Act, lawmakers are considering reforms to US crypto tax policy, and the industry has cemented its presence. The industry is still seeking tax reform, including a de minimis exemption for crypto transactions, and hopes that the market structure bill will become law without overly burdening the industry. The upcoming November elections, which will determine the next Congress, are also a key focus.

These threads will be picked up next month at Consensus Miami, which will bring together leading lawmakers, regulators, and industry experts. The conference will feature speakers such as Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Ashley Moody, regulators like CFTC Chairman Mike Selig, and the White House's Patrick Witt.

Congressman Steven Horsford, who recently introduced a new version of the Parity Act, will participate in a discussion about the bill. A meetup for those interested in discussing the election or the policy landscape will also be hosted.

The Policy & Regulation Summit will be a key part of the conference, with an entire day dedicated to exploring key policy and regulatory issues. The summit will address questions such as whether decentralized finance can comply with anti-money laundering rules, how to deal with taxes in the new 1099-DA era, and what the Clarity Act means for the industry.

A series of sessions will focus on the 2026 midterm elections, including the crypto industry's engagement with the election and what to expect from the new Congress. The summit will feature speakers such as SEC Crypto Task Force chief Taylor Lindman, former IRS officials Seth Wilks and Raj Mukherjee, and the National Futures Association's Lucy Hynes, among others.

The Policy Summit will conclude with a debate on prediction markets, which are likely to be a major topic in the US Supreme Court. This week Tuesday For feedback or suggestions on future topics, email nik@coindesk.com or find me on Bluesky @nikhileshde.bsky.social.

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