US Senate Delays Crypto Market Structure Bill to 2026 Amid Regulatory Uncertainty
The US Senate Banking Committee has postponed critical hearings on cryptocurrency market regulation until early 2026, dashing industry hopes for swift regulatory clarity. Chairman Tim Scott emphasizes a bipartisan approach to delineate oversight between the SEC and CFTC, but the delay injects further uncertainty into a sector craving legislative direction.
Midterm elections in 2026 loom as another complicating factor, potentially derailing progress on this long-awaited reform. The bill’s central challenge remains defining jurisdictional boundaries: while the SEC polices securities, the CFTC WOULD gain expanded authority over digital commodities under the proposed framework.
Market participants now face prolonged ambiguity—a scenario that may stifle institutional adoption while emboldening regulatory arbitrage. The postponement signals Washington’s ongoing struggle to reconcile innovation with investor protection in crypto’s frontier markets.
