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OPINION:

As the FTX collapse demonstrated in 2022, issuing and trading digital assetsincluding cryptocurrenciesneed clear rules of the road.

The regulatory gaps in the digital asset market must be filled by legislation, not by independent agencies ruling by enforcement. If Congress does not take action, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler will continue to exercise broad authority over all digital assets.

Thats why we collaborated with House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) to craft our Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21), which crafts a fit for purpose regulatory framework for digital assets that protects consumers and investors while keeping innovation in the United States.

This type of committee collaboration is unprecedented and may be the most substantial piece of digital asset legislation in Congresss history. FIT21 directs the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), along with the bank supervisors, on how to classify cryptocurrencies and other digital assets as securities or commodities.

Since our two committees passed FIT21 last summer, this bill has incorporated our members bipartisan priorities. We believe it fully responds to the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Presidents Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets.

Digital asset regulation is making further bipartisan strides in Congress. This past week, both the House and Senate sent the SEC and White House a clear, bipartisan message to nullify their SAB 121 rule, which is detrimental to consumer protection and yet another example of SEC Chair Genslers reckless rule-by-enforcement approach to cryptocurrency. Democrats in the House and Senate voted to roll back SAB 121, signaling that protecting consumers and preserving innovation in America are priorities for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

The FIT for the 21st Century Act is a pragmatic legislative solution that ensures both crypto-native and traditional finance companies can sensibly innovate in this market while establishing consumer protections that are currently clearly inadequate.

As Chairmen of the Digital Asset Subcommittees, we remain committed to passing our landmark legislation into law. This week, our historic bill heads to the House Floor, where it must pass to ensure America continues fostering innovation and remains a global tech and finance hub.

French Hill represents Arkansass Second Congressional District and Dusty Johnson represents the state of South Dakota at-large in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Bringing clarity to cryptocurrency - Washington Times