Coin Center Advocates for Rulemaking Over No-Action Letters in Crypto Regulation
Key Takeaways:
- Coin Center challenges the SEC’s reliance on no-action letters, promoting a shift toward comprehensive rulemaking in the crypto sector.
- No-action letters, while offering temporary clarity, contribute to a fragmented regulatory landscape and selective treatment.
- The SEC and CFTC collaboration through a memorandum of understanding aims to harmonize oversight efforts.
- The proposed CLARITY Act seeks to delineate responsibility between the SEC and CFTC, minimizing regulatory uncertainty.
- The current regulatory framework impedes equal treatment, favoring projects with resources for individualized relief.
WEEX Crypto News, 2026-03-18 14:26:21
The Push for Regulatory Clarity in Crypto
Coin Center, a cryptocurrency think tank based in Washington D.C., advocates for moving beyond the SEC’s current use of no-action letters in regulating digital assets. Instead, they call for the development of comprehensive rules that govern the industry uniformly. These letters, meant to provide regulatory clarification on a case-by-case basis, lack the capacity to ensure consistent and fair treatment across the crypto landscape. Coin Center contends that the scattered nature of no-action letters creates a disjointed regulatory environment, leading to uncertainty and potential preferential treatment for projects with the means to pursue individual relief.
A Fragmented Approach to Crypto Oversight
No-action letters have been a common tool used by the SEC in the absence of clear, overarching regulations. A recent example includes the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issuing a no-action letter to Phantom Technologies, a crypto wallet provider. This letter allows them to operate without registering as a broker under specific circumstances. Additionally, similar letters have been extended to depin-4609">decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) projects, and permissions for investment advisers to use state trust companies as crypto custodians, illustrating the piecemeal nature of no-action relief.
The Risk of Unequal Treatment
Coin Center argues that this ad-hoc method inherently favors projects with the resources to navigate and secure such rulings, leaving others at a disadvantage. They emphasize the need for uniform regulations to support the foundational value of crypto networks, which function more as utility-like public goods than as traditional private services. By transitioning from individualized relief to standardized rulemaking, the regulatory environment would become more equitable, providing a level playing field for all market participants.
SEC and CFTC: Collaborating for Consistent Oversight
Efforts are underway to harmonize oversight despite historical friction between the SEC and CFTC. A memorandum of understanding signed on March 12 signifies a step towards improved coordination between these agencies, suggesting that potential regulatory battles might be mitigated through better collaboration and mutual understanding.
Addressing Regulatory Turf Wars
This agreement aims to resolve long-standing jurisdictional disputes, streamlining their regulatory focus to avoid overlaps and gaps in oversight. Enhanced cooperation could set the stage for clearer rules governing the classification and treatment of digital assets, addressing the core issue of regulatory ambiguity that currently plagues the crypto industry.
Legislative Efforts: The CLARITY Act
In parallel, U.S. lawmakers seek their own solution through legislative measures such as the CLARITY Act. This bill, still moving through Congress, aims to delineate responsibilities clearly between the SEC and CFTC. Should it pass, the act would offer decisive guidance on which digital assets fall under each agency’s jurisdiction, reducing present ambiguities and fostering a more predictable regulatory landscape.
Looking Ahead: A Path to Uniform Regulation
The current discourse surrounding crypto regulation highlights the urgent need for a cohesive approach. Relying solely on no-action letters risks perpetuating an uneven playing field. Instead, implementing comprehensive regulations can address the diverse nature of digital assets, supporting innovation while safeguarding investors and maintaining market integrity. As stakeholders from Coin Center to federal agencies and legislators engage in shaping the future regulatory framework, the key lies in balancing innovation with adequate oversight to foster trust and growth within the decentralized digital economy.
FAQ
What are no-action letters in the context of crypto regulation?
No-action letters are communications from regulatory bodies like the SEC, indicating that they do not intend to take enforcement action against a company or project operating under specific conditions. They provide temporary relief but can lead to fragmented regulatory practices.
How do no-action letters impact the crypto industry?
While providing short-term regulatory clarity for individual entities, no-action letters can contribute to inconsistencies and selective treatment in the larger market, favoring those with resources to secure such rulings.
What is Coin Center’s stance on crypto regulation?
Coin Center advocates for uniform rulemaking by regulatory bodies over the reliance on no-action letters. They believe comprehensive regulations will provide a more even regulatory landscape, enhancing fairness and predictability across the industry.
What collaboration exists between the SEC and CFTC?
The SEC and CFTC have taken steps to enhance collaboration via a memorandum of understanding, aiming to better coordinate their oversight activities. This cooperation is intended to reduce historical turf wars and improve the regulatory clarity in the financial markets.
What is the purpose of the CLARITY Act?
The CLARITY Act seeks to provide clear jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and CFTC regarding digital assets. It aims to reduce ambiguity and offer consistent treatment of cryptocurrencies, fostering a predictable and stable regulatory environment.
You may also like

6MV Founder: In 2026, the "landmark turning point" for crypto investment has arrived

Abraxas Capital Mints $2.89 Billion USDT: Liquidity Boost or Just More Stablecoin Arbitrage?
Abraxas Capital just received $2.89 billion in freshly minted USDT from Tether. Is this a bullish liquidity injection for crypto markets, or is it business as usual for a stablecoin arbitrage giant? We analyze the data and the likely impact on Bitcoin, altcoins, and DeFi.

A VC from the Crypto world said AI is too crazy, and they are very conservative

The Evolutionary History of Contract Algorithms: A Decade of Perpetual Contracts, the Curtain Has Yet to Fall

Kicked out by PayPal, Musk aims to make a comeback in the cryptocurrency market

Solana ETF News: What Is a Solana ETF and Why Is Goldman Sachs Betting $108 Million on SOL?
Solana ETF news today shows Goldman Sachs disclosed a $108M position while total SOL ETF inflows reached $1.45B. Analysts now expect up to $6B in institutional demand as Solana trades 71% below its all-time high.

Bitcoin ETF News Today: $2.1B Inflows Signal Strong Institutional Demand for BTC
Bitcoin ETFs news recorded $2.1B inflows over 8 consecutive days, marking one of the strongest recent accumulation streaks. Here’s what the latest Bitcoin ETF news means for BTC price and whether the $80K breakout level is next.

Michael Saylor: Winter is Over – Is He Right? 5 Key Data Points (2026)
Michael Saylor tweeted yesterday “Winter‘s Over.” It is short. It is bold. And it has the crypto world talking.
But is he right? Or is this just another CEO pumping his bags?
Let us look at the data. Let us be neutral. Let us see if the ice has really melted.

WEEX Bubbles App Now Live Visualizes the Crypto Market at a Glance
WEEX Bubbles is a standalone app designed to help users quickly understand complex crypto market movements through an intuitive bubble visualization.

Polygon co-founder Sandeep: Writing after the chain bridge chain explosion

Major Upgrade on Web: 10+ Advanced Chart Styles for Deeper Market Insights
To deliver more powerful and professional analysis tools, WEEX has rolled out a major upgrade to its web trading charts—now supporting up to 14 advanced chart styles.

Morning Report | Aethir secures a $260 million enterprise contract with Axe Compute; New Fire Technology acquires Avenir Group's trading team; Polymarket's trading volume surpassed by Kalshi

Why a Million-Follower Crypto KOL Chooses WEEX VIP?
Discover why top crypto KOL Carl Moon partnered with WEEX. Explore the WEEX VIP ecosystem, 1,000 BTC protection fund, and exclusive rewards for serious traders.

CoinEx Founder: The Crypto Endgame in My Eyes

Spark Coin (SPK): Explodes 73% as Aave Bleeds $15B, A Good Investment Now?
Spark coin (SPK) surged 73% as $15 billion fled Aave after the KelpDAO hack. This article explains what Spark is, why it’s pumping, and whether it is a good investment right now.

As Aave's building collapses, Spark's high-rise is rising

RootData: Q1 2026 Cryptocurrency Exchange Transparency Research Report

What Is Memecoin Trading? A Beginner's Guide to How It Works, the Risks, and 2026's Hottest Tokens
Memecoins surged 30%+ at the start of 2026 while Bitcoin was flat. RAVE spiked 4,500% then crashed 90% in days. MAGA jumped 350% overnight. This guide explains exactly how memecoin trading works — and how to not blow up your account doing it.
6MV Founder: In 2026, the "landmark turning point" for crypto investment has arrived
Abraxas Capital Mints $2.89 Billion USDT: Liquidity Boost or Just More Stablecoin Arbitrage?
Abraxas Capital just received $2.89 billion in freshly minted USDT from Tether. Is this a bullish liquidity injection for crypto markets, or is it business as usual for a stablecoin arbitrage giant? We analyze the data and the likely impact on Bitcoin, altcoins, and DeFi.
A VC from the Crypto world said AI is too crazy, and they are very conservative
The Evolutionary History of Contract Algorithms: A Decade of Perpetual Contracts, the Curtain Has Yet to Fall
Kicked out by PayPal, Musk aims to make a comeback in the cryptocurrency market
Solana ETF News: What Is a Solana ETF and Why Is Goldman Sachs Betting $108 Million on SOL?
Solana ETF news today shows Goldman Sachs disclosed a $108M position while total SOL ETF inflows reached $1.45B. Analysts now expect up to $6B in institutional demand as Solana trades 71% below its all-time high.



