5 Key Pieces of Crypto Legislation To Monitor in 2026
The Graph Foundation's Regulatory Task Force tracks evolving frameworks to maintain compliance and inform the blockchain data ecosystem.
The Graph Foundation maintains an internal task force dedicated to monitoring legislative developments that impact the blockchain data industry. This group tracks proposed and pending regulations across jurisdictions, analyzes their potential implications, participates in discussions, and ensures The Graph ecosystem remains informed as regulatory frameworks evolve.
As the steward of decentralized data infrastructure, The Graph Foundation recognizes that understanding the regulatory landscape is essential for the broader blockchain ecosystem. While the ink is not yet dry on many of these frameworks, the task force is actively monitoring their progress and participating in industry discussions to contribute perspective and promote informed dialogue
The Graph Foundation actively participates in several industry organizations and standards bodies to contribute to the development of responsible blockchain standards, regulatory frameworks, and enterprise best practices.
The Foundation engages with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) through Technical Committee 307 (TC 307), which focuses on blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. Participation in ISO/TC 307 allows The Graph ecosystem to contribute to the development of international standards related to interoperability, governance, identity, and data integrity for distributed systems.
The Foundation is also a member of the Ethereum Protocol Advocacy Alliance (EPAA), a coalition dedicated to advancing sound public policy and regulatory clarity for open blockchain networks built on Ethereum. Through EPAA, The Graph helps support policy engagement with regulators and lawmakers to ensure decentralized infrastructure can operate within clear and responsible regulatory frameworks.
Additionally, The Graph Foundation participates in the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), an industry consortium focused on developing enterprise-grade standards and best practices for Ethereum-based systems. Engagement with the EEA enables collaboration with enterprises, technology providers, and researchers working to accelerate the adoption of Ethereum and related decentralized infrastructure in real-world business environments.
Through these engagements, The Graph Foundation contributes technical expertise and ecosystem insights to support the responsible development and adoption of open blockchain infrastructure globally.
Below are five legislative frameworks the task force is closely monitoring in 2026. These represent significant regulatory developments that the blockchain data industry is tracking as they move through the legislative process.
Digital Asset Market Structure CLARITY Act (U.S.)
was introduced to address the current lack of a unified federal regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States. Classification and oversight responsibilities are currently fragmented between the , , and banking regulators. The proposed Act defines regulatory boundaries for crypto issuers, exchanges, custodians, and intermediaries.
Introduced in 2025, the legislation was progressing through Senate consideration but is now experiencing delays and shifts in industry support in early 2026. As with most major legislation, the Act is undergoing intensive negotiation and redrafting. Provisions including stablecoin yield restrictions remain contested, and the final text is being actively debated.
A key point of discussion centers on whether stablecoin issuers should be permitted to offer yield to holders. On January 12, the issued an updated draft that proposes prohibiting issuers from doing so. Discussions continue regarding potential compromise language.
GENIUS Act (U.S. Stablecoin Regulation)
Prior to the introduction in 2025, stablecoins operated under patchwork rules that created questions around reserve transparency and consumer protection. The proposed federal statute would establish stablecoins as a recognized payment instrument with defined reserve requirements and multi-agency supervision.
Given stablecoins' role in the broader crypto ecosystem, the GENIUS Act has implications beyond dollar-pegged assets. Related rulemakings by the and federal banking regulators addressing capital, liquidity, governance, and risk management are under development, with comments on the latest proposal due by February 17, 2026.
Senate Crypto Market Structure Bill (Post-CLARITY Draft)
With the CLARITY Act currently delayed, Senate committees have drafted alternative market structure frameworks. These proposals include mixed jurisdiction between the CFTC and SEC that address trading, market infrastructure, and decentralized finance protocols. The legislation represents the first crypto market structure bill to clear a Senate committee.
The bill would grant the CFTC explicit authority over digital commodities and spot crypto markets—a departure from its historical focus on derivatives. Approval by the Agriculture Committee does not guarantee final passage: a companion version must be advanced by the Senate Banking Committee, and the two versions must be unified before a full Senate vote.
Ongoing discussions involve issues such as whether crypto firms should be able to pay interest on stablecoins. The legislative process continues.
Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA)
While the regulation commenced in 2024, July 1, 2026, marks a significant implementation milestone. This date ends the "grandfathering" period for Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs). After that date, they must comply with MiCA requirements, including collecting information on EU users such as names, addresses, and tax numbers and reporting transaction details to relevant tax authorities.
From July, any firm operating under previous national rules must be fully MiCA-authorized or cease operations in the EU. European CASPs have had approximately two years to prepare for compliance. As robust regulation has been enacted in other regions—including the United States—MiCA has become a reference framework that other jurisdictions are examining as they develop their own regulatory approaches.
UK Payments and Cryptoasset Regulatory Reforms (FCA Proposals)
The United Kingdom is a major technology and financial innovation hub. is updating its regulatory approach to explicitly include crypto firms under its Handbook rules. These reforms establish standards that may influence global compliance expectations and cross-border operations.
For UK-based firms and international entities serving the British market, these rules may redefine reporting and consumer protection obligations. Crypto businesses are anticipated to be able to apply for FCA authorization by late 2026, with the new rules scheduled to take effect around October 2027.
The Regulatory Landscape in 2026
The transition from conceptual regulatory frameworks to enacted law and compliance regimes is progressing across multiple jurisdictions. The CLARITY Act and related Senate proposals address structural questions in the U.S. regulatory approach, while the GENIUS Act establishes specific requirements for stablecoins. In Europe, MiCA and the UK's FCA updates establish comprehensive regulatory frameworks for crypto businesses operating in those regions.
The Graph Foundation's regulatory task force continues to monitor these five legislative developments as they progress through 2026. This work supports The Graph ecosystem and ensures stakeholders remain informed and prepared as the regulatory landscape evolves.
About The Graph
is the leading indexing and query protocol powering the decentralized internet. Since launching in 2018, it has empowered tens of thousands of developers to effortlessly build and leverage across countless blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, Celo, Soneium, and Avalanche. With powerful tools like Substreams and Token API, The Graph delivers high-performance, real-time access to onchain data. From low-latency indexing to rapid token data, it serves as the premier solution for building composable, data drive dapps.
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