The U.S. crypto industry is experiencing a notable shift toward regulatory acceptance and integration with traditional finance, driven by recent developments in Washington, D.C. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released new interpretive guidance clarifying how broker-dealer and transfer agent rules apply to crypto assets and distributed ledger technology, addressing custody requirements, in-kind crypto ETF creations, and tokenized securities. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has welcomed these clarifications as a positive step for the industry. Major financial institutions like BlackRock are actively engaging with the SEC to discuss innovations such as adding staking features to Ethereum-based ETFs and refining rules for crypto options trading, signaling increased institutional interest. Industry participants, including Chainlink and Securitize, have submitted formal responses to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, offering recommendations to modernize market infrastructure and compliance frameworks. This regulatory pivot is encouraging crypto firms to adopt Wall Street models to build investor trust and scale globally. The integration of crypto into traditional finance is further underscored by public discussions on major financial media platforms and by executives emphasizing the importance of fair regulation over political considerations. Additionally, the SEC is exploring pathways for bringing equity trading and settlement onto blockchain technology, indicating a broader vision for the future of financial markets.