US Bill Would Classify Bitcoin Ethereum XRP and Solana as Digital Commodities

A US market bill would classify Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana as digital commodities and clarify agency roles.

A US market structure bill has revived the debate over crypto oversight in Washington. The proposal would classify Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana as digital commodities. 

That approach would guide how federal agencies supervise large parts of the crypto market. It would also set clearer lines for exchanges, issuers, brokers, and investors.

The issue gained pace after joint SEC and CFTC guidance on March 17, 2026. Congress is now weighing broader rules for token status and market oversight. 

The measure has drawn attention because it names major tokens in one framework. For crypto markets, that could narrow a long period of legal doubt across major tokens.

How The Bill Classifies Major Crypto Assets

The draft uses a category system to separate securities from digital commodities. Supporters say Bitcoin and Ethereum would fit the commodity side under that structure. 

The same reading also places XRP and Solana in that group. That is the main point driving fresh interest around the bill among traders and policy watchers.

The material tied to the bill also refers to a five category taxonomy. That taxonomy is presented as a guide for federal treatment of crypto assets.

It aims to sort tokens by how they are created, sold, and used over time. As a result, lawmakers can frame oversight around clearer definitions.

The post says “mining, staking, airdrops, and wrapping” would receive non security treatment. That point matters because those activities support many blockchain networks.

It also speaks to a broader fight over what counts as a securities transaction in crypto markets. The shared material also says the Ripple lawsuit appears in the bill’s policy background.

Why SEC and CFTC Roles Remain Central

The Congress text says crypto assets can fall under two main legal paths. One path leads to securities law and SEC oversight. 

The other leads to commodity treatment and a more limited CFTC role. That split has shaped the US crypto debate for years across courts, agencies, and trading platforms.

Bitcoin has long been treated differently in that debate. The shared text says buyers do not rely on a central group for profit. 

Because of that, Bitcoin has generally sat outside securities treatment. Ethereum has also been viewed more like a commodity in federal discussions.

Other tokens have faced harder questions because early sales often funded network development. In some cases, buyers expected gains from work done by an issuer. 

Courts and regulators have often focused on those facts when they reviewed token sales and later trading. That is why many token disputes, including the XRP case, turned on the Howey test.

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Why The Bill Matters for Crypto  Markets

Legal uncertainty had already shaped exchange listings in the United States. Some platforms limited tokens that the SEC had flagged as possible securities. 

That reduced access for traders on more cautious exchanges. It also left some popular assets in a weaker market position with US users and firms.

The same uncertainty also slowed spot ETF reviews for several tokens. The shared material says many filings were still pending by late 2025. 

Bitcoin and Ethereum had clearer paths than several rival tokens. So, other proposed products faced a slower route through the approval process in Washington.

Large institutions also need clear legal labels before buying digital assets. Pension funds, insurers, and company treasuries often follow strict compliance rules. 

A bill that names Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana could lower one barrier. Congress has not passed the measure, but the debate has moved forward in public and in policy circles.

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