In late 2025, U.S. lawmakers introduced the SAFE Crypto Act, marking a notable shift in how Congress is approaching cryptocurrency regulation. Rather than focusing on token classification or licensing regimes, this bill zeroes in on a growing and widely acknowledged problem: crypto-related scams and fraud targeting everyday consumers.
The SAFE Crypto Act arrives alongside other high-profile crypto proposals—most notably the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act—but it serves a very different purpose. Understanding how SAFE fits into the broader regulatory landscape helps clarify where U.S. crypto policy may be headed.
What Is the SAFE Crypto Act?
The SAFE Crypto Act is designed to strengthen the federal government’s ability to identify, prevent, and respond to cryptocurrency scams. Rather than creating new registration requirements for crypto companies, the bill proposes the creation of a formal task force dedicated to combating digital asset fraud.
The task force would bring together:
- Federal regulators
- Law enforcement agencies
- Consumer protection officials
- Private-sector and technical experts
Its goal is to improve coordination, information-sharing, and investigative capacity when it comes to common crypto scams, including investment fraud, impersonation schemes, and other deceptive practices that have proliferated as crypto adoption has grown.
At its core, SAFE is about response and protection, not redefining how crypto markets operate.
How SAFE Differs From the CLARITY Act
The CLARITY Act addresses an entirely different problem: regulatory uncertainty.
For years, crypto businesses have struggled with unclear jurisdictional lines between the SEC and the CFTC. The CLARITY Act attempts to resolve that by defining categories of digital assets and assigning regulatory authority accordingly. It would establish clearer compliance pathways for exchanges, brokers, custodians, and other intermediaries.
Key distinction:
- SAFE Crypto Act: Targets scams and fraud through enforcement coordination
- CLARITY Act: Restructures how crypto markets are regulated and supervised
SAFE does not tell crypto companies how to register or operate. CLARITY does.
How SAFE Compares to the GENIUS Act
The GENIUS Act, unlike SAFE or CLARITY, is already law. It focuses specifically on stablecoins, creating a federal framework governing who can issue them, how they must be backed, and how they are supervised.
Where GENIUS prioritizes financial stability and consumer protection in payments, SAFE focuses on fraud prevention across the broader crypto ecosystem. GENIUS sets rules for lawful issuance; SAFE focuses on stopping bad actors regardless of asset type.
Why the SAFE Crypto Act Matters
The introduction of the SAFE Crypto Act signals a recognition that crypto-related harm is not just a regulatory theory—it’s a lived reality for millions of users. By emphasizing coordination rather than new licensing schemes, SAFE attempts to address fraud without slowing innovation or rewriting market rules.
Together, these bills show a multi-track approach to crypto policy:
- SAFE: Stop scams and protect consumers
- CLARITY: Define rules and regulatory authority
- GENIUS: Regulate stablecoins and payment risk
While only one of these is currently law, the SAFE Crypto Act adds an important enforcement-focused layer to the conversation—and highlights that fraud prevention is now a central priority in U.S. crypto regulation.
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