As this newsletter's readers are aware, the US Congress has been debating market structure legislation for months, but cryptocurrency policy encompasses far more issues, including taxes, decentralized finance regulations, the upcoming midterm election, and state-level developments. CoinDesk's Consensus Miami conference will delve into these topics in depth. The significance of policy changes in the digital asset space has grown substantially, with the US President signing the first major crypto-specific legislation last year and regulators shifting their enforcement approach. Despite a somewhat stagnant crypto market, the industry has solidified its position and is now seeking tax reform, a de minimis exemption for crypto transactions, and a market structure bill that won't overly burden the industry.
The Consensus Miami conference will feature discussions with leading lawmakers, regulators, and industry experts, including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Ashley Moody, CFTC Chairman Mike Selig, and White House point man on crypto Patrick Witt. The event will also include a Policy & Regulation Summit, exploring key issues such as decentralized finance compliance with anti-money laundering rules, taxes in the new 1099-DA era, and the Clarity Act.
A series of sessions will focus on the 2026 midterm election, and the conference will conclude with a debate on prediction markets, a topic likely to be addressed by the US Supreme Court.