American Teacher Federation Demands Withdrawal of Crypto Market Structure Bill — Here’s Why

The American Teacher Federation (ATF) has stepped into the crypto policy debate — and their message to lawmakers is blunt: withdraw the Crypto Market Structure Bill entirely. Their objection isn’t about opposing innovation; it’s about protecting workers, pensions, and public funds from what they believe are unresolved risks in the crypto ecosystem.

At the core of their concern is consumer protection. The ATF argues that the bill, as written, weakens existing safeguards by giving crypto firms too much regulatory freedom without demanding the same accountability expected from traditional financial institutions. They fear this could leave ordinary Americans — including teachers whose retirement savings depend on stable markets — exposed to fraud, volatility, and systemic risk.

Another major issue is pension exposure. Teachers’ unions have long fought to keep retirement funds invested in dependable, regulated assets. They worry that the bill could indirectly push pension managers toward riskier crypto-related investments, especially if political pressure mounts or if “innovation” is used as a justification for loosening guardrails.

The ATF also warns that the bill lacks clear rules around custody, disclosures, and conflict of interest, which they argue could repeat the mistakes that led to high-profile collapses like FTX.

In short, their message is simple: fix the gaps or scrap the bill. From their perspective, the current version puts everyday workers at risk while giving too much leeway to an industry still proving it can self-govern.