Congress writes the governing statutes
Congress can create or amend federal law, authorize agencies and set the terms of a new market-structure framework. Committee jurisdiction, hearings and bill text are therefore central records for political reporting.
A bill’s introduction or committee report is not the same as a new legal obligation. JAT’s tracker records legislative stage explicitly.
The SEC and CFTC have different starting authorities
A Congressional Research Service primer describes the SEC’s securities-law role and the CFTC’s derivatives-market oversight, while noting limits on CFTC authority in spot cash markets. Crypto assets and activities can raise different questions depending on the transaction, product and intermediary involved.
That means an asset label alone does not answer every jurisdiction question. News coverage should name the relevant activity and source document.
Why the map improves market coverage
A policy event can move expectations without producing an immediate rule. Separating the institution, legal instrument and stage gives readers a clearer bridge from Washington reporting to market context.