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Dogecoin and XRP have come under heightened regulatory scrutiny following the release of new draft language in the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which proposes a framework that could classify them alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum. Rather than relying on subjective debates over network decentralization or token utility, the draft ties legal treatment to whether an asset underpins a listed exchange-traded product. This represents a significant shift in how major altcoins may be handled moving forward.
On January 13, 2026, journalist Eleanor Terrett highlighted a section of the latest Digital Asset Market Clarity Act draft that sets a clear rule for “network tokens.” It states that a token will not be classified as an ancillary asset or considered a security if, by January 1, 2026, it serves as the primary asset of an exchange-traded product listed on a US national securities exchange.
This condition is critical because it directly affects compliance obligations. Tokens that qualify under this standard would not be required to file the disclosures mandated for other digital assets under the bill. In effect, the draft establishes a regulatory shortcut for tokens that achieve a defined level of institutional recognition through listed exchange-traded products registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Under this structure, assets such as XRP, Dogecoin, Solana, Litecoin, Hedera, and Chainlink would enter the framework on the same footing as Bitcoin and Ethereum from day one, provided the exchange-traded product requirement is met. For Dogecoin and XRP specifically, this represents a tangible route out of prolonged legal uncertainty. Their legal status would hinge on verifiable market structure rather than subjective regulatory interpretation, giving investors, exchanges, and institutional participants a clearer standard for compliance and market engagement.
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act was introduced in the US House of Representatives in 2025 as lawmakers sought to address years of fragmented crypto oversight. The bill was developed under the leadership of the House Financial Services Committee.
Throughout 2025, lawmakers circulated multiple discussion drafts to regulators, industry groups, and legal experts. These drafts aimed to replace enforcement-driven policy with statutory definitions, including the concept of “network tokens,” which form the backbone of the current proposal. The January 2026 draft reflects a later stage in that process, focusing on implementation thresholds rather than broad regulatory theory.
While the Act has not yet been passed into law, it has advanced through committee review and remains a central reference point in ongoing market-structure negotiations. Its significance lies in the predictability it introduces. For Dogecoin and XRP, the bill does not promise immediate relief, but it sets a transparent standard for achieving regulatory parity. That shift alone alters how these assets are evaluated by exchanges, institutional issuers, and investors navigating the US digital asset landscape.
