Readers of this newsletter are likely aware that Congress has been debating market structure legislation for the past few months, but discussions around crypto policy encompass a wide range of issues, including taxes, regulations on decentralized finance, the upcoming midterm election, and state approaches to the sector. CoinDesk's Consensus Miami conference will delve into each of these topics in depth. This newsletter explores the intersection of cryptocurrency and government, and you can sign up for future editions here.
The past year has seen significant developments in crypto policy, with the US President signing the first major crypto-specific legislation and regulators shifting their enforcement approach. The crypto industry has made substantial progress, with bitcoin's price soaring and legislation seemingly imminent. However, the current year has seen crypto prices stagnate amid broader economic stresses, and time is running out for Congress to pass market structure legislation.
Despite this, regulators have proposed rules for stablecoin companies, and lawmakers are considering reforms to US crypto tax policy. The industry is seeking tax reform, hoping the market structure bill will become law without overly burdening the industry, and looking ahead to the November election. Consensus Miami will bring together leading lawmakers, regulators, and industry experts to discuss these issues. The conference will feature a Policy & Regulation Summit, exploring key policy and regulatory issues, including decentralized finance compliance with anti-money laundering rules, taxes in the new 1099-DA era, and the Clarity Act.
Sessions will also focus on the 2026 midterm election and the crypto industry's engagement with it. The summit will close with a debate on prediction markets, discussing whether they are a form of gambling or a novel financial instrument, and who should regulate them.