SEC and CFTC Joint Guidance Places XRP Among Digital Commodities

The US regulatory landscape has undergone significant changes with the joint issuance of new guidance by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on March 17, 2026. This landmark release redefines how crypto assets are evaluated under federal securities laws, leading to a clearer regulatory footing for XRP.

According to the updated interpretation, digital commodities are classified as assets whose value is driven by the functioning of their underlying network and market supply-demand forces rather than managerial efforts. The SEC-CFTC guidance explicitly lists XRP among digital commodities, alongside prominent crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Ether, and others.

The reclassification aligns with prior court rulings, including a pivotal decision in July 2023 by Judge Analisa Torres, which distinguished between different types of XRP transactions. The new framework treats XRP as a non-security asset when it functions as a digital commodity and is not tied to an investment contract, further solidifying its legitimacy within the crypto market.