Marta Belcher, president of the Blockchain Association and Filecoin Foundation, said the window to pass meaningful cryptocurrency legislation through the United States is closing rapidly, and the industry could face long-term consequences if it is missed.
Speech on this week’s episode of Cointelegraph dispersion Podcast Belcher urges lawmakers and industry leaders to take action ahead of the 2026 election cycle, threatening the current momentum.
“Absolutely crucial” is the passage of legislation that articulates key elements within the industry by early next year, Belcher said. “Once the mid-term happens, we really don’t know if Congress will be crypto-friendly or there will be a rebound.” Belcher pointed to the hostile environment of the last administration, when Gary Gensler and the Securities and Exchange Commission, led by the Biden Administration, filed lawsuits against nearly every major token as a cautionary tale. Related: U.S. Senator questioned Mehta’s stability plan in Genius Act “So it’s hard to exaggerate how many industries in the industry went abroad… You have to be crazy to start a cryptocurrency project in the United States at that time,” she said. “I really hope that when we make legislation that has the potential to operate here, the tide will change.” Currently, Congress’s Stablecoin and broader market structure legislation are progressing, and a potential vote on Stablecoins is expected to be expected. But Belcher warns that relying on late summer sports is risky. “There are a lot of reasons to worry about waiting until after August. You never know what other priorities there will be in Congress,” she said. “We really, really, really need to be done this year.” The legislation will create a clear path to compliance – many crypto projects are desperately needed. Belcher stressed that most industry players are “willing to do a lot.” “They just want to know what to do to comply with,” she said. To get there, she also highlighted the need for compromises across the industry: “In my opinion, this legislation actually exists. It’s not perfect…but we all need to be willing to unite and do what needs to be done.” Listen to the full conversation in the latest episode Disperse with two-line force On the Podcast of Cointelegraph Page,,,,, Apple Podcast or Spotify. And, don’t forget to check out Cointelegraph’s other lineups! Magazine: Legal team: Crypto wants to overthrow the bank and is now becoming them in the Stablecoin battleEncryption legislation soon followed
What’s on the table
