1inch Lawyer: US Agencies to Drive Crypto Regulation Post-Midterms

Crypto executives, including a lawyer for decentralized exchange aggregator 1inch, anticipate that US federal agencies will take the lead in shaping cryptocurrency regulation, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming midterm elections. This expectation comes as the industry awaits clearer rules from Washington, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) already signaling increased scrutiny. The view reflects a pragmatic shift among crypto firms, which have historically hoped for favorable legislation from Congress. With partisan gridlock likely to persist, agencies are seen as the more active front in the regulatory battle. This matters because agency actions—such as enforcement cases, rulemaking, and no-action letters—can define compliance burdens, market access, and innovation speed for crypto businesses. The 1inch attorney’s remarks highlight how industry participants are preparing for a regulatory environment shaped less by new laws and more by existing statutes applied to digital assets. As the midterms approach, crypto companies are closely watching key agency appointments and policy statements. The takeaway: even without new legislation, the regulatory landscape for crypto is set to shift through agency action in the months ahead.