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U.S. Congress poised to resume discussions on digital asset market-structure bill… January committee markup expected
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- The U.S. Congress is expected to resume a markup of the digital asset market-structure bill at a Senate committee around mid-January.
- The bill would clarify the division of roles between the CFTC and SEC and expand regulatory authority over digital assets.
- Political variables and the election cycle could hinder passage, so difficulties are expected before establishing a regulatory framework.
- The article was summarized using an artificial intelligence-based language model.
- Due to the nature of the technology, key content in the text may be excluded or different from the facts.
The U.S. Congress is expected to fully resume discussions in the early new year on a digital asset market-structure bill that has been stalled for a long time. Observers say a Senate committee-level markup could take place around mid-January when the congressional recess ends.
On the 31st (local time), Cointelegraph reported that the U.S. Senate Banking Committee is expected to resume deliberations on the digital asset market-structure bill as early as the second week of January. The timing was reported based on comments from multiple sources familiar with the bill's deliberations.
The Senate Banking Committee is said to be considering a markup of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act. Discussion of the bill has been delayed by Democratic concerns over the regulatory scope for decentralized finance (DeFi) and by the prolonged impact of a federal government shutdown.
Cody Carbone, CEO of digital asset advocacy group The Digital Chamber, told Cointelegraph in an interview that "at least one markup on the market-structure-related bill pending in the Senate will take place in the second week of January." He added that the Senate Agriculture Committee is also reviewing a separate market-structure bill.
The bill aligns with the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY), which passed the U.S. House last July. That act would grant the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) broader authority to regulate digital assets and is designed to clarify the division of roles with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Senate draft also suggests a regulatory framework premised on cooperation between the CFTC and the SEC.
However, the bill's chances of passing the full Senate remain uncertain. Republican Senator Thom Tillis said in October last year that the election cycle ahead of the 2026 midterms could weigh on discussions of digital asset-related legislation.
There are also significant political variables. Senator Cynthia Lummis, considered a leading supporter of the digital asset market-structure bill, announced on December 19 last year that she will not run for re-election in 2026. She explained that serving another term after completing one term in the Senate would be a substantial burden, but said that she would continue to support efforts to pass the bill even after announcing her retirement.
Market observers are watching whether discussions on a U.S. digital asset regulatory framework could pick up speed if the January markup actually proceeds. However, some expect considerable pain ahead of bill passage, as political consensus in the Senate and the timing of presidential and midterm elections coincide.
