US Crypto Market Structure Bill Faces Fresh Delay Despite Trump Support - Regulatory Gridlock Deepens
Washington's crypto legislation hits another wall—political promises clash with procedural paralysis.
The Promise vs. The Process
Another session, another stall. Support from high places doesn't grease the legislative wheels—it often gums them up further. The market structure bill, touted as a foundational framework, languishes in committee purgatory. Ambition meets amendment. Vision meets veto threat. The usual story.
Why This Keeps Happening
It's not a lack of will—it's a surplus of stakeholders. Every agency wants a piece, every lawmaker has a rider. The bill becomes a Christmas tree, then a liability. Consensus fractures under the weight of its own scope. Meanwhile, the market evolves faster than the markup process. A classic case of regulatory arbitrage—by the regulators themselves.
The Real-World Impact
Innovation doesn't wait for a vote. Firms build around the uncertainty, treating regulatory gaps as features, not bugs. Clarity gets priced in, then priced out with each delay. The industry's posture shifts from engagement to endurance. Another quarter, another continuing resolution for crypto's legal status.
Looking Beyond the Beltway
The delay itself sends a signal: self-custody, self-regulation. The market interprets inaction as permission—or at least, a lack of prohibition. Projects decentralize further, jurisdictions compete. Washington's slow dance becomes everyone else's opportunity. The bill's fate matters less than the precedent of its postponement.
So the waiting game continues—where political capital meets bureaucratic inertia, and the only thing moving faster than blockchain is the shifting goalpost for its governance. In finance, they say time is money. In crypto regulation, time is just… more time.
The U.S. Crypto Market Structure Bill is Delayed
The crypto market structure bill, awaiting passage in the U.S., is the much-anticipated regulatory clarity, which is likely to be delayed. According to recent reports and insiders within the industry, the Senate Banking Committee has changed its priorities to housing policies advanced by the previous President Donald Trump, delaying the timing of major legislation.
Senate Banking Committee Prioritizes Housing Over Crypto
The crypto market structure bill, which was initially supposed to progress rapidly, is now postponed by a few weeks. According to the sources, the lawmakers, including the Committee Chair Tim Scott, are focusing on the Trump-supported affordability reforms in housing.
These efforts will focus on providing tax breaks to homeowners and solving the national housing crisis, which will temporarily push the regulation issue off the agenda.
Source: CoinDesk X
Consequently, the Senate discussion of the bill could go on into late February or March, and the crypto market will remain in a state of temporary regulatory uncertainty.
Senate Agriculture Committee Moves Forward
Although the Banking Committee has stalled its development, the Senate Agriculture Committee is still going forward with its version of the legislation. The most recent version of the bill, which was issued by Chairman John Boozman, gives the CFTC increased powers to regulate digital commodities.
The vote of the Agriculture Committee is planned to take place on January 27, 2026, and then the two versions of the bill, which are Banking and Agriculture, WOULD have to be reconciled with each other, and then a full Senate vote would take place.
This merger will play a critical role in bridging the regulatory oversight gap between the SEC and CFTC that has long been a thorn in the flesh of the U.S. cryptocurrency industry.
Source: Bloomberg X
Trump Signals Strong Support for Crypto Legislation
In 2026, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Donald TRUMP declared his plan to sign a significant bill in the near future, which underlines the ambition of the U.S. to establish itself as the world center of digital assets.
Trump emphasized such initiatives as the GENIUS stablecoin act that would increase institutional adoption and offer a regulatory framework to stablecoins.
The bill has the backing of the entire industry, with more than 100 cryptocurrency companies signing a letter to Congress. The bitcoin price today reacted well, regaining its lost value of $90,000 and indicating market confidence in regulatory clarity.
Implications of the Delay on Markets
The delay creates a short-term uncertainty among the investors, which may influence the price of cryptos in the market as the regulatory direction is awaited. The delay highlights the need to have clear regulations on digital assets, especially in the issuance of stablecoins, custody products, and developer categories.
The players in the industry, such as Coinbase, have been complaining of the uncertainties that are still going on, particularly with the rewards of stablecoins as well as the definition of developers under the changing laws.
The Future of U.S. Crypto Regulation.
After they reconcile the Banking and Agriculture Committee versions, the entire Senate will decide on the regulatory framework of the U.S. digital assets. The act will likely strike a balance between innovation and consumer protection to give investors and businesses a clear picture and make the U.S. more competitive in the global market.
The is an important milestone in the future of digital asset regulation in the United States, with executive backing by Trump and a bipartisan interest in the promotion of innovation.
Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Please DYOR before investing. CoinGabbar is not responsible for any financial losses. Crypto assets are highly volatile, and you can lose your entire investment.
