US Crypto Market Structure Bill Hits Another Snag – Pushed to Late February or March

Washington's dance with digital asset regulation just added another slow song to the playlist.

The Legislative Limbo

Forget a swift resolution. The much-anticipated framework designed to clarify how cryptocurrencies fit into the U.S. financial system isn't sprinting to the finish line—it's stuck in committee purgatory. Key votes needed to advance the bill have been punted, with lawmakers now eyeing the tail end of February or even March for any potential movement. That's a fresh delay on top of prior stalls, pushing concrete action further into an election year where political agendas typically trump policy nuance.

The Industry's Holding Pattern

This isn't just bureaucratic noise. Each postponement keeps major crypto firms and traditional finance players waiting in the wings, their expansion and integration plans hinging on regulatory certainty they still don't have. The delay effectively extends the current patchwork of enforcement actions and regulatory guesses that define the American crypto landscape. It's a waiting game that costs real momentum—and potentially, market share to more decisive jurisdictions overseas.

What's Really Causing the Gridlock?

Blame the usual suspects: competing priorities, complex technical amendments, and the sheer political weight of defining a new asset class. Some factions want robust investor protections that mirror traditional finance, while others argue for lightweight rules that foster innovation. Bridging that gap takes time—apparently, more time than anyone hoped. The clock is ticking, and the market's patience, like a trader's attention span, is notoriously finite.

A cynical take? Washington moves at the speed of a legacy bank transfer—while the crypto world operates at blockchain velocity. This gap isn't just about dates on a calendar; it's a fundamental mismatch in tempo that leaves billions in capital waiting for a green light that keeps fading to amber.

Crypto Community Isn’t Happy With it

The Committee’s backburnering of the crypto bill has left the community in uncertainty, despite backers pushing for the urgent passage of the legislation.

Patrick Witt, WHITE House Executive Director of the President’s Crypto Council, called for immediate implementation of the bill. He said that it is unrealistic to expect a multi-trillion-dollar industry to operate without a comprehensive regulatory framework.

The work on the crypto bill – called the CLARITY Act – stalled its planned markup after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong publicly withdrew support for the draft bill. Armstrong flagged several issues with the draft, including a de facto ban on tokenized equities.

However, the Bloomberg report noted that the Banking panel’s delay might not affect the Senate Agriculture Committee’s efforts on crypto.

The Agriculture Committee released its own version of that market structure bill, which the industry insiders fear might be a partisan bill lacking Democratic support.

“While differences remain on fundamental policy issues, this bill builds on our bipartisan discussion draft while incorporating input from stakeholders and represents months of work,” the Committee Chairman, John Boozman, clarified. Boozman postponed this legislation markup to late January.

The Agriculture Committee bill on crypto will need to get support from both Democrats and the Banking counterpart before it can continue further steps.

“I Hope to Sign Very Soon:” Donald Trump

President Trump confirmed that the crypto market structure bill will be signed “very soon.”

Speaking at the World Economic Forum at Davos 2026, he said that his administration is working to ensure that America remains the crypto capital of the world.

TRUMP CONFIRMS THE CRYPTO MARKET STRUCTURE BILL WILL BE SIGNED SOON.

Statement made at @wef 2026. pic.twitter.com/rgxX712eki

“Last year, I signed a landmark GENIUS Act into law, now Congress is working very hard on crypto market structure legislation… Bitcoin, all of them,” he spoke at Davos.

“I hope to sign very soon, unlocking new pathways for Americans to reach financial freedom.”