US Crypto Regulations: What You Need to Know

When working with US crypto regulations, the set of federal laws and agency rules that govern digital assets in the United States. Also known as American cryptocurrency compliance, it shapes how projects launch, how investors trade, and how taxes are calculated. US crypto regulations are enforced by SEC enforcement, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approach to policing securities‑law violations in the crypto space, while FINCEN guidance, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s AML and KYC rules for crypto businesses sets the compliance baseline. US crypto regulations encompass securities law, AML requirements, and stablecoin oversight.

Key Pillars Shaping the Landscape

The first pillar is securities law. The SEC treats many tokens as securities, meaning projects must file registration statements or qualify for exemptions. This creates a direct link: US crypto regulations require token issuers to adhere to securities filing rules, and failure triggers costly fines. SEC enforcement influences market behavior, pushing exchanges to delist risky assets and prompting projects to redesign token structures. The second pillar comes from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees crypto derivatives and futures. A third pillar is the emerging stablecoin framework, embodied by GENIUS Act, the bipartisan bill that would define stablecoins as a new asset class and set reserve requirements. The GENIUS Act defines stablecoin classification, forces banks to hold transparent reserves, and nudges the Treasury to clarify tax reporting obligations. Together, these entities form a network: securities law influences enforcement, enforcement shapes market behavior, and stablecoin rules affect liquidity.

Because the regulatory system is layered, investors often juggle multiple compliance boxes. A DeFi protocol may need to satisfy both SEC registration and FINCEN AML reporting, while also tracking the tax implications outlined in IRS Notice 2021‑XX. This interplay means that US crypto regulations not only affect token launches but also dictate how exchanges list assets, how airdrops are structured, and how cross‑border transfers are reported. Below you’ll find guides, analysis, and real‑world case studies that break down enforcement actions, compare the GENIUS Act to the EU’s MiCA framework, and walk you through practical steps to stay on the right side of the law.