The US Senate Banking Committee has delayed markup hearings on crypto market structure legislation until 2026, dashing expectations that a session would take place this week.
In a statement issued Monday, a spokesperson for Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott confirmed that no market structure markup will be held before the end of the year.
“Chairman Scott and the Senate Banking Committee have made meaningful progress with Democratic counterparts on bipartisan digital asset market structure legislation,” the spokesperson said.
They added that Scott has emphasized the importance of a bipartisan approach, noting that he has “consistently and patiently engaged in good-faith discussions to deliver a strong bipartisan framework that brings clarity to the digital asset industry and helps make America the crypto capital of the world.”
“The Committee is continuing to negotiate and looks forward to a markup in early 2026.”
Midterm elections may slow progress further
The delay has frustrated parts of the crypto industry, which had anticipated more meaningful regulatory advances in 2025.
“The Market Structure Bill has fallen apart at the markup stage in the Senate … and early 2026 could also be at risk,” said crypto investor and researcher Paul Barron.
The proposed legislation is designed to clarify regulatory oversight of crypto markets by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, with the CFTC positioned as the primary regulator of spot crypto markets. However, the 2026 midterm elections — when all House seats and 33 Senate seats will be contested — could further complicate or delay bipartisan efforts.
Crypto markets slide
Uncertainty also remains over how quickly markup hearings will resume in 2026, as lawmakers are expected to prioritize funding the federal government when Congress returns from its holiday recess. The current funding bill expires on Jan. 30, raising the possibility that crypto legislation could be sidelined.
Meanwhile, crypto markets fell sharply on Monday, with total market capitalization dropping 3.6% as roughly $150 billion exited the sector in late trading. Bitcoin declined by nearly $5,000, sliding from just under $90,000 to slightly above $85,000, according to TradingView, and has yet to rebound.
