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Washington, January 2026 — The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has canceled its scheduled Thursday markup of a major cryptocurrency market-structure bill, as lawmakers continue negotiations over key regulatory disagreements.
The bill, aimed at creating a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi), was expected to move forward this week. However, unresolved issues among senators and industry stakeholders forced the committee to delay the markup process.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, lawmakers are still divided over several critical provisions, including stablecoin regulations, the treatment of DeFi platforms, and the division of oversight authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Key Points of Disagreement
One of the main sticking points is the proposed restriction on stablecoin rewards, which could limit or ban incentives paid to users for holding certain digital assets. The crypto industry argues that such measures could harm innovation and competitiveness in the U.S. market.
Another major issue is regulatory jurisdiction. The bill seeks to clarify whether digital assets should be regulated primarily as securities or commodities, a long-standing debate that has created uncertainty for crypto exchanges and investors.
Additionally, lawmakers are struggling to reach consensus on how far regulations should extend into decentralized finance, with some senators warning against over-regulation that could push innovation offshore.
Industry Reaction
The delay comes after several prominent crypto industry leaders expressed concerns about the bill’s current draft. Some have stated that passing an incomplete or overly restrictive law could do more harm than good, preferring further revisions over a rushed approval.
What Happens Next?
A markup is a crucial step in the legislative process, allowing committee members to debate and amend the bill before voting. The cancellation suggests that negotiations will continue behind closed doors until broader bipartisan support is achieved.
Senate leaders have not announced a new date for the markup, but officials indicate that discussions will resume in the coming weeks. Until then, the future of comprehensive U.S. crypto regulation remains uncertain.#MarketRebound #USNonFarmPayrollReport #USJobsData $BTC
