A new update from the discussion draft of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act suggests a major shift in how several large cryptocurrencies could be treated under U.S. law.
According to the text highlighted by Eleanor Terrett, the bill would classify certain network tokens in the same regulatory category as Bitcoin and Ethereum, provided they meet a specific condition tied to exchange-traded products.
🇺🇸 UPDATE: The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act would treat $XRP, $SOL, $LTC, $HBAR, $DOGE, and $LINK the same as $BTC and $ETH.
This applies if they back exchange-traded products as of Jan. 1, 2026, per Eleanor Terrett. pic.twitter.com/UJJSdmdBp1
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) January 13, 2026
What the Draft Language Says
The excerpt from the bill states that a network token would not be considered a security if, as of January 1, 2026, units of that token serve as the principal asset of an exchange-traded product listed on a registered U.S. securities exchange.
In practical terms, this means tokens backing approved exchange-traded products would fall outside traditional securities classification under the Securities Act of 1933.
Which Tokens Are Included
Under this framework, the following assets would be treated the same as Bitcoin and Ethereum:
- XRP
- Solana (SOL)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Hedera (HBAR)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Chainlink (LINK)
If these assets back exchange-traded products by the cutoff date, they would be explicitly excluded from being labeled securities under this section of the law.
Why This Matters for Crypto Markets
This provision would mark one of the clearest legal distinctions yet between network tokens and securities in U.S. regulation. By anchoring classification to exchange-traded products, lawmakers appear to be using market structure and institutional validation as a regulatory benchmark.
For the listed tokens, equal treatment with Bitcoin and Ethereum could significantly reduce long-standing legal uncertainty, particularly around exchange listings, custody, and institutional participation.
While the bill remains a discussion draft, the language signals a meaningful shift in how U.S. lawmakers may approach crypto classification going forward, one that could reshape the regulatory outlook for several of the market’s largest assets.
