Rich by Coin

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins has depicted a pivotal moment for U.S. financial and digital asset markets, expressing optimism that President Donald Trump will soon sign bipartisan market structure legislation into law. According to Atkins, the forthcoming framework promises to deliver “clear and principled rules of the road, anchored in bipartisan statutory text,” a move he believes will foster innovation while maintaining strong investor protections. The proposed bipartisan market structure legislation seeks to resolve these issues by replacing ambiguity with clear, principle-based statutory rules. By explicitly defining regulatory responsibilities, asset classifications, and compliance pathways, the bill aims to deliver long-needed certainty to market participants.

Crucially, it does so while preserving strong investor protections against fraud, manipulation, and systemic risk, striking a balance between regulatory clarity and market integrity. Designed to clearly define how digital assets are classified and regulated, the proposed framework replaces years of ambiguity with enforceable rules. For XRP, this clarity could be a catalyst for broader adoption, deeper liquidity, and renewed institutional confidence. This clarity is especially consequential for XRP, whose legal troubles arose largely from vague and shifting interpretations of securities law.

By focusing on concrete rights, obligations, and ongoing contractual promises, rather than the token itself, the framework closely mirrors Ripple’s long-standing position that XRP is distinct from any initial sales or issuance-related contracts. Crucially, the bill moves away from subjective concepts like “sufficient decentralization,” replacing regulatory guesswork with enforceable definitions. This shift would significantly reduce the legal uncertainty that has kept U.S. exchanges and institutions cautious about XRP. With clearer classifications, platforms could list, custody, and develop XRP-based products with confidence, unlocking broader market access, deeper liquidity, and more efficient price discovery.