The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has formally petitioned the U.S. Senate to halt the cryptocurrency market structure legislation, arguing the measure risks destabilizing retirement security and the broader economy. The union underscores that a careful regulatory approach is needed to protect workers and beneficiaries.

In its submission, the Responsible Financial Innovation Act is criticized for lacking a transparent regulatory framework to mitigate risks from crypto assets and stablecoins. The AFT contends that without robust guardrails, everyday families could face elevated exposure to investment risk and long-term pension vulnerabilities.

The letter also warns that on-chain tokenization by non-crypto entities could circumvent securities law, eroding registration, disclosure, and intermediary oversight. It calls for strengthened oversight of illicit activity within crypto markets to safeguard investor protections and preserve financial stability for retirement portfolios.