When the Securities and Exchange Commission released its semi-annual regulatory agenda, one item stood out: for the first time, providing clarity for crypto was listed among the agency’s highest priorities. That confirms what millions of Americans already know — the time has come to establish clear rules of the road for digital assets.
For years, crypto debates in Washington have been bogged down in partisan soundbites and turf battles. But beyond the Beltway, the public consensus is strikingly clear. A poll conducted by the National Cryptocurrency Association in partnership with Harris Poll found that 1 in 5 U.S. adults report that they currently own cryptocurrency, spanning age, geography, and income levels. A Pew Research Center survey found that 63% of Americans say they have little to no confidence that ways to invest in, trade, or use crypto are reliable and safe. And a recent YouGov survey found that 34% of Americans favor more regulation of crypto, compared to just 6% who want less - evidence that Americans lean toward tighter rules rather than looser ones.
In other words, this is not a narrow policy fight or a niche investor concern. It is a mainstream issue. Crypto is no longer confined to Silicon Valley or tech enthusiasts — it is part of the financial lives of millions of ordinary Americans. Chainalysis estimates that Americans transacted more than $1 trillion in digital assets in 2024, with top uses ranging from peer-to-peer and small business payments to long-term savings. Far from the caricature of “tech bros,” the new face of crypto looks a lot more like everyday America.
And yet, Washington has not kept pace. Two-thirds of Americans say they lack confidence that policymakers understand crypto or its impact on daily life. This trust deficit is more than a perception problem; it is a warning. Without clear and consistent rules, consumers are left exposed, responsible innovators face uncertainty, and the U.S. risks ceding leadership to global competitors who are moving faster to provide regulatory clarity.
This is not about being “for” or “against” crypto. It is about whether one of the fastest-growing areas of financial technology will operate under predictable oversight, just as banks, credit markets, and payment systems do. The absence of such oversight does not make crypto go away — it simply drives innovation, investment, and consumer adoption to jurisdictions where the rules are clearer, or in the worst cases - where there are no rules at all. The US has already lost years on this issue, every additional month this issue is punted, the U.S. loses more ground.
Interest in digital assets among average Americans has never been higher, but so too is their demand for stronger guardrails. They want confidence that when they use these technologies — whether for savings, payments, or investing — the protections are in place to keep them secure.
Congress has a rare opportunity this fall to deliver. Crypto has matured beyond its speculative origins. Americans have spoken: they expect Washington to finish the job. The SEC’s agenda has spotlighted the need, public opinion has provided the mandate, and proposals are already on the table.
The only question now is whether lawmakers will seize the moment. If they do, they can protect consumers, foster innovation, and ensure that the U.S. leads rather than follows in shaping the financial systems of the future. If they don’t, they could squander a moment when public engagement is peaking — and risk allowing a vital technology to languish in uncertainty.
The opportunity is in front of us. The mandate is already there. Congress should move forward and prove to Americans that Washington can, in fact, deliver clarity where it’s needed most.
