The SEC and CFTC Say They Will Write Crypto Rules Without Congress. What Atkins and Selig Can Actually Do for XRP and Bitcoin. - Yahoo Finance

The SEC and CFTC signaling they will pursue crypto rulemaking without waiting for Congress marks a notable shift in how U.S. regulators approach digital assets. Rather than relying solely on enforcement actions, the agencies appear willing to use their existing authority to craft clearer frameworks. The mention of Paul Atkins and Brian Selig points to the leadership and staff-level figures whose priorities will shape how far that rulemaking can realistically go.

For assets like XRP and Bitcoin, the practical relevance lies in classification and compliance. Clearer rules could reduce the ambiguity that has driven litigation and exchange delistings, potentially easing how tokens are treated for registration, custody, and trading purposes. Bitcoin, already widely viewed as a commodity, may see less direct impact, while XRP's status has been central to ongoing legal questions.

What to watch: the scope of any proposed rules, whether they survive legal challenge, and how they interact with existing court rulings. Agency rulemaking can move faster than legislation but remains subject to judicial review and future leadership changes.