Panelists at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium said it is not too late for the United States to catch up to the crypto regulatory frameworks in other regions, but warned that inaction might lead to stagnation and the US falling behind other countries.

“I don't think it's too late, even with the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) in the European Union (EU),” Sylvia Favretto, general counsel and corporate secretary at Mysten Labs, the developer behind the Sui network, said. 

However, she added that the window of opportunity is “small” and urged immediate action. Stuart Alderoty, chief legal officer at Ripple, said:

“If we seize on the opportunity now and get the market structure right, I think we win. If we don't get the market structure right and the switch flips back to a more hostile policy or regulatory environment, I think there is a very credible risk that we will lose out to the EU, to APAC, or maybe even to the Middle East.”

Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, a crypto advocacy group, warned that the path toward regulatory clarity “could be a long process,” as US lawmakers and regulatory officials come to a consensus on cohesive crypto policy ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. 

Related: Key Republican senator expects Democratic support for US crypto market structure bill

The window of opportunity for crypto clarity in the US is narrowing

The 2024 US elections gave Republicans control of the Executive Branch and both chambers of Congress, giving the Trump administration substantial leeway in passing pro-crypto regulatory policies.

However, the Republican Party secured the Congressional majority by a slim margin that has narrowed since 2024.

Republicans have a majority of seven seats in the House of Representatives and hold an eight-seat majority in the Senate heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

Joe Doll, general counsel at non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace Magic Eden, told Cointelegraph that the Trump administration has only two years to enact meaningful crypto regulations.

Doll said that the balance of power typically shifts to the other party during midterm elections and warned that a gridlocked legislature could stall crypto regulations in the US.

Marta Belcher, board president of the Blockchain Association, echoed Doll’s warning, adding that regulatory policy is also difficult to pass through the legislature in the lead-up to the midterm election year, as representatives focus on their re-election campaigns.

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