U.S. Reps. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA) released a discussion draft of a bill that would provide a statutory framework for digital asset regulation.
The discussion draft intended to provide clarity, fill regulatory gaps, and foster innovation, while providing adequate consumer protections.
“This discussion draft is the first step toward delivering on Republicans’ commitment to develop clear rules of the road for the digital asset ecosystem,” McHenry, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said. “Our goal is to strike the appropriate balance between consumer protection and encouraging responsible innovation. This is the product of an unprecedented joint effort between the House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees, which gives us a better shot at striking that balance. I encourage stakeholders and market participants to provide constructive feedback to help us improve our legislation.”
McHenry and the Financial Services Committee collaborated with the House Committee on Agriculture on this discussion draft.
“For months, our committees have worked collaboratively to establish a viable regulatory framework for digital assets necessary to protect consumers and promote American innovation. Today’s release of the discussion draft brings us one step closer to bringing regulatory certainty to these novel and emerging technologies,” Thompson, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, said. “This historic joint effort with the House Committee on Financial Services aims to close existing authority gaps between the CFTC and SEC and bolster U.S. leadership in financial and technological innovation.”
U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR), chair of the House Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion, also supports the bill.
“Legislation from Congress is needed to protect U.S. consumers and investors, as well as to preserve America’s role as a global leader in finance, technology, and innovation,” Hill said. “The discussion draft from the House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees represents a common approach to digital asset regulation that would bring existing consumer and investor protections to digital asset-related activities and intermediaries under the principle of ‘same risk, same regulation.’ We look forward to public feedback on this discussion draft.”