🏛️ U.S. Senate Eyes Digital Asset Market Structure Bill in January
Momentum may finally be returning to crypto legislation on Capitol Hill. Members of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee are expected to take up a long-delayed digital asset market structure bill in the second week of January, potentially holding a markup session after months of political gridlock.
📜 What’s on the table
The bill under discussion is the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, a framework aimed at clarifying oversight of digital assets. The legislation mirrors efforts already passed in the House under the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY), approved in July.
⚖️ Regulatory implications
The proposal would expand the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in crypto markets, while earlier drafts also emphasized closer coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
🗣️ Industry push
According to Cody Carbone, CEO of The Digital Chamber, the Senate is likely to hold at least one markup on market structure legislation in January. At the same time, the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee is reviewing its own version of the bill.
🧩 Political headwinds remain
The bill’s future is far from guaranteed. Senator Thom Tillis has warned that campaigning for the 2026 midterm elections could slow progress. Adding uncertainty, crypto advocate Cynthia Lummis recently announced she will not seek reelection—though she continues to back the legislation.
📌 Why it matters:
January’s markup could be a critical inflection point for U.S. crypto regulation, signaling whether Congress can move past delays and deliver long-awaited clarity to digital asset markets.
