SEC and CFTC Sign 11 March 2026 MOU to Split Crypto Oversight and Classify Key Digital Assets

On 11 March 2026, the SEC and CFTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding that restructures U.S. oversight of digital assets and aims to end decades of jurisdictional disputes. Under the new framework, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and other "functional infrastructure tokens" fall under CFTC authority as commodities, while ICOs and certain governance tokens remain within SEC supervision, with stablecoins addressed under the GENIUS Act and the Clarity Act progressing in Congress. The agreement introduces shared investigations, data exchange, and harmonized rules, signaling the close of crypto's unregulated "Wild West" phase.