Treasury Secretary Bessent: Crypto Can Keep U.S. Dollar Dominant, SEC and CFTC to Fill Regulatory Gap

CoinDesk · 2026-10-27
Treasury Secretary Bessent: Crypto Can Keep U.S. Dollar Dominant, SEC and CFTC to Fill Regulatory Gap

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told attendees at Ripple's conference that cryptocurrency could be America's next tool for maintaining the U.S. dollar's global dominance. Speaking at the event, Bessent suggested that coordinated action by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) could help fill the regulatory gap left by the failure of the Clarity Act. He also addressed concerns over crypto debanking, indicating that curbing such practices is part of the path forward. Bessent's remarks signal a notable shift in tone from the Treasury, which has historically viewed digital assets with caution. By framing crypto as a strategic asset for dollar supremacy, he places the technology at the center of U.S. financial policy. The mention of the SEC and CFTC working together points to a potential dual-agency framework that could provide the regulatory certainty the industry has long sought. The failure of the Clarity Act, which aimed to define digital asset classifications, left a vacuum that Bessent now suggests can be addressed through existing regulators. His comments come amid growing concerns over crypto companies losing access to banking services, a practice known as debanking. By acknowledging this issue, Bessent aligns with industry complaints and hints at future policy interventions. For the crypto sector, Bessent's speech at Ripple's conference is a bullish signal that Washington may finally be ready to embrace digital assets as a tool of economic statecraft. The key takeaway: the U.S. is not planning to cede the digital currency race, and regulators may soon provide the clarity needed for innovation to flourish.