Crypto Bill Delayed by Shutdown

Photo by Ewan Kennedy on Unsplash

The failure of Congress to agree on a funding deal has resulted in the US government going into its second week of closure, with employees furloughed until a resolution can be found. This has proven to be a massive setback for the American crypto industry, with lawmakers currently drafting a bill to regulate it.

The US has been instrumental in the global success of cryptocurrencies in 2025, with President Trump backing up campaign promises to improve the environment for cryptocurrencies in an attempt to make the country a global hub. This has seen cryptocurrencies reach record values and a variety of industries exploring how they can benefit from them.

Many consumers are also discovering the benefits of investment and using it as an alternative to the dollar, as well as using the new crypto trading platform that allows them to predict market values rather than investing in specific currencies.

Despite this delay, market analysts are still confident that cryptocurrencies will continue to perform well and could even receive another boost when new legislation is enacted.

Government Shutdown

Failure to pass funding legislation results in many federal operations being scaled back or ceased, with only essential operations, including air traffic control and national security, still in operation. The failure of the White House and Congress to come to an agreement on a funding bill for the 2026 financial year saw non-essential operations grind to a halt on October 1st.

The main sticking points to an agreement include plans over health care and ACA tax credits, spending levels, and retroactive pay for furloughed workers. The number of government workers currently furloughed is around 900,000, while a further 700,000 essential workers are expected to continue until the shutdown is resolved, without pay.

This has already had a devastating effect on federal employees, with many struggling to make ends meet. Many services have also been suspended, and the economic fallout could cost the US economy billions for every week it continues.

The US Crypto Industry and the Importance of Its Regulatory Framework

The US has already signed into law the Genius Act that focuses on stablecoins, but Trump’s commitment to providing the regulatory framework required to scale operations among other cryptocurrencies has been delayed by the shutdown.

Senate Banking Committee lawmakers had already begun the process of drafting a crypto bill, with plans to designate digital asset authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. However, many of the staff who usually provide advice to lawmakers are currently furloughed.

The knock-on effect of delays to drafting the bill will include whether the Senate can vote on the proposal before the end of the year. This will not derail attempts to create a far-reaching legislative framework for the US crypto industry, but it could potentially delay it. 

If the bill is to get back on track, a resolution must be forthcoming to get federal workers back in action sooner rather than later, or risk impacting crypto values.