In a major step forward for the US digital asset industry, lawmakers in Washington have advanced two key pieces of legislation that may finally establish clear regulatory ground for stablecoins and blockchain developers. With the US Senate progressing the GENIUS Act and the House reintroducing the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, bipartisan support is coalescing around crypto policy, potentially transforming how innovation in this space is governed.

The movement comes amid growing crypto adoption, particularly among minority communities, and increasing pressure on Congress to provide legal clarity and support for the industry’s expansion. This week’s developments may mark a turning point in the long-stalled conversation around cryptocurrency regulation in the United States.

The GENIUS Act: A Framework for Stablecoins

Passed in a 66–32 procedural vote on May 19, the GENIUS Act formally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, seeks to create a foundational framework for the issuance and regulation of stablecoins. It not only defines what constitutes a “payment stablecoin,” but also lays out clear standards for which entities can issue them and under what conditions.

According to Rashan Colbert, director of US policy at the Crypto Council for Innovation, the bill offers more than just definitions. “It outlines in a robust way just who’s allowed to do this and what they need to look like,” Colbert explained. Approved issuers would include bank subsidiaries, credit unions, and vetted non-bank entities, a move intended to ensure accountability and consumer protection.

The bipartisan nature of the bill is particularly notable. Colbert pointed out that while support for stablecoin regulation has existed within both parties, particularly among Democrats, there has been little opportunity for meaningful legislative action until now.

Blockchain Certainty: Protecting Developers

Meanwhile, over in the House of Representatives, a different kind of crypto bill is gaining traction. Reintroduced by Representatives Tom Emmer and Ritchie Torres, the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act is designed to protect blockchain developers and service providers who don’t hold or manage customer funds.

“It clarifies that they are not money transmitters,” said Colbert, a distinction that has long caused legal ambiguity and anxiety in the developer community. By exempting these entities from burdensome regulatory oversight, the bill aims to foster innovation without compromising security or investor protection.

This legislative protection could have a ripple effect across the ecosystem, providing legal assurance to the people building core infrastructure for blockchain-based applications and services.

Rising Adoption Spurs Political Urgency

With crypto ownership surging — now reportedly held by around one in five Americans — the pressure on legislators to act is intensifying. Adoption rates are especially high in Black, Latino, and Asian-American communities, suggesting that digital assets are serving as an alternative financial tool for underbanked populations.

This demographic shift is not going unnoticed in Washington. Lawmakers are increasingly acknowledging crypto’s social and economic impact, adding urgency to the call for clear regulatory guidelines that don’t stifle innovation or exclude minority communities from financial participation.

Next Steps: Market Structure and Civic Engagement

While the GENIUS and Blockchain Certainty Acts are encouraging signs of momentum, broader reforms especially those involving the overall market structure, are likely to be more complex and contentious. According to Colbert, the key to future success lies in public involvement.

“It really is, at the end of the day, the people making their voices heard,” he said. As the regulatory landscape takes shape, input from both the crypto community and the public at large will be essential.

With Capitol Hill finally tuning in to the crypto conversation, a new chapter may be opening for the US digital asset sector, one driven by clarity, inclusion, and innovation.