One day after senators restarted bipartisan negotiations on January 6, the US Senate Agriculture and Banking Committees are set to vote on cryptocurrency market structure bills on January 15, 2026. The moves aim to deliver regulatory clarity for digital assets, but Democrat support remains uncertain on the Agriculture panel amid ongoing hurdles.
Building on the January 6 meeting in Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott's office—where Republicans offered over 30 revisions addressing ethics, investor protections, and illicit finance—the Agriculture Committee, led by Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), will vote on its digital commodities bill, per spokesperson Sara Lasure. The Banking Committee will simultaneously mark up the securities provisions.
These steps follow a prior discussion draft and seek comprehensive reforms for crypto traders and holders. However, bipartisan talks have stalled in Agriculture, with Democrats withholding support for the latest draft over unaddressed requests, as reported by Politico. CoinDesk highlights approaching votes but unresolved language issues.
Additional tensions pit banking groups against crypto firms over the House-passed US Clarity Act, which Senate leaders may address. Banks claim a GENIUS Act loophole lets crypto issuers bypass stablecoin interest bans via partnerships, harming traditional lending, according to MLex-reported letters.
Punchbowl News calls the process an intense 'face-melting stage.' While markups could propel industry reforms, Democratic concerns and disputes may shape outcomes.
