The US Senate Agriculture Committee will vote next week on a sweeping crypto market structure bill as lawmakers file amendments addressing ethics conflicts and regulatory readiness. The changes arrive days before a scheduled markup, signalling unresolved disagreements that could shape the bill’s future. At the centre of the debate sits an ethics proposal tied to President Donald Trump’s crypto interests and broader questions about market oversight.
Ahead of Tuesday’s markup, members submitted several amendments, including a proposal from Michael Bennet to add the Digital Asset Ethics Act to the bill. The a restrict “covered individuals”, including the president, vice president, and lawmakers, from engaging in specific digital asset transactions.
It seeks to limit financial activity that could raise conflict concerns while lawmakers craft crypto regulations. The proposal reflects Democratic concerns over Trump’s personal and family involvement in crypto ventures. According to Bloomberg estimates cited by lawmakers, Trump earned roughly $1.4 billion from crypto-related businesses. Those ventures include DeFi and stablecoin project World Liberty Financial.
The Trump family also holds a reported 20% stake in the mining firm American Bitcoin. Democrats link these interests to calls for stronger ethics rules as Congress sets new market standards. Can lawmakers regulate digital assets while senior officials retain direct financial exposure to the same markets?
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