US Senate Postpones Crypto Market Bill Debate Until Early 2026

TLDR

• The crypto market structure bill is delayed until early 2026 by the US Senate.

• Disagreements over SEC and CFTC authority prevented a final version of the bill.

• DeFi oversight and investor protection clauses slowed negotiations.

• Regulatory uncertainty remains for US crypto exchanges and token issuers.

The United States Senate has postponed its vote on the Crypto Market Structure Bill, delaying further action until early 2026. Lawmakers failed to reach an agreement before the end of the legislative session, citing unresolved disputes across multiple regulatory areas.

The delay continues to leave crypto firms, exchanges, and institutional investors without a clear federal framework for digital asset oversight.

Jurisdictional Disputes Stall Progress

The bill builds on the previously passed Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. It aims to formally divide responsibilities between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). However, Senate committees responsible for these regulators could not reach consensus.

Negotiations between the Banking and Agriculture Committees—responsible for overseeing the SEC and CFTC—remained unresolved.

Both sides claimed authority over crypto spot markets, which blocked agreement on final language. As a result, lawmakers were unable to finalize the bill before the session closed.

DeFi and Consumer Protection Provisions Remain Contentious

Regulation of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols emerged as another point of disagreement. Some senators pushed for exemptions for decentralized systems that lack centralized control. Others argued that such exemptions would create enforcement gaps and reduce investor safeguards.

Consumer advocacy groups also voiced concern over portions of the bill that they believe could reduce the SEC’s authority.

These groups warned that the proposed framework could leave investors at risk, especially after several large-scale crypto collapses. Their opposition contributed to the delay and pushed lawmakers to consider more revisions.

Bill Broader Than Other Crypto Legislation

Unlike other legislative efforts, such as the GENIUS Act, which focuses only on stablecoins, the market structure bill proposes comprehensive rules. It aims to create a unified federal framework covering token classification, exchanges, brokers, and custody services.

The bill also seeks to shift away from enforcement-based regulation. It would introduce formal asset classification rules to reduce reliance on court decisions that currently define whether tokens are treated as securities or commodities.

Lawmakers backing the bill say it would bring clarity for all market participants through direct statutory guidance.

Federal Oversight Expands Outside the Bill

Despite the legislative delay, federal regulators have already made changes in some areas. On December 4, 2024, U.S. traders gained access to leveraged spot crypto trading on exchanges registered with the CFTC. The agency confirmed these contracts will trade under existing futures market rules, with clearinghouse protection.

Acting CFTC Chairman Caroline Pham stated,

Bitnomial Inc. followed with the launch of a leveraged spot trading platform on December 8 under this framework. The company said the model enables capital efficiency while managing counterparty risks through broker intermediation and clearinghouse settlement.

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