The long-anticipated US crypto market regulatory bill has hit another roadblock, with Senate leaders confirming that the markup session originally scheduled for earlier this month has now been pushed back to late January.
The latest delay adds to the growing frustration within the digital asset industry, which has been awaiting clearer federal guidelines for years. With market volatility, institutional demand, and national competitiveness all tied to the outcome, the postponement comes as a setback for stakeholders hoping for legislative progress in early 2026.
Senate Pushes Markup Amid Ongoing Negotiations
In a recent report, journalist Eleanor Terrett revealed that the Senate Agriculture Committee has postponed its markup of the crypto market structure bill from mid-January to late January 2026.
According to Terrett, the committee’s chairman, Senator John Boozman, made the announcement, citing the need for more time to maintain bipartisan support as the reason for the postponement. Although the bill has drawn bipartisan interest, divisions persist over how aggressively federal agencies should regulate crypto firms and whether certain digital assets should be classified as securities or commodities.
Thus, the postponement could be a result of fear among lawmakers that if the bill moves too quickly before gaining solid backing from Democratic lawmakers, it may fail on the Senate floor. Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that the Senate Banking Committee markup is still scheduled for January 15, 2026. Furthermore, while the Banking Committee retains jurisdiction over the security aspects of crypto regulations, both committees will need to reach a consensus before the bill can proceed to the next stage.
Industry Reaction: Concerns Over Growing Regulatory Uncertainty
The crypto industry, which is already navigating a patchwork of unclear and sometimes conflicting regulations, reacted to the delay with disappointment. Interestingly, this is not the first time the passage of the Crypto Market Structure bill has hit a roadblock, as the markup legislative meetings in November 2025 were also rescheduled.
Thus, many firms argue that repeated setbacks hinder innovation, stall investment, and prompt developers to seek more predictable jurisdictions overseas. Exchanges, blockchain startups, and institutional players have long called for unified federal guidelines that clearly outline compliance standards and customer safeguards.
Meanwhile, adding to the uncertainty are the latest Democratic counterproposals to the GENIUS Act. The Democrats had raised concerns over stablecoin yield restrictions, token classification, and measures to guard against illicit finance.
What This Means for the Crypto Market in Early 2026
Though the immediate market reaction has been subdued, traders are closely watching for updates. Regulatory clarity remains one of the most anticipated catalysts for long-term growth in the crypto market. A finalized federal framework could unlock institutional capital, strengthen liquidity, and lend legitimacy to emerging sectors, such as tokenized real-world assets.
Some market analysts warn that the delay could dampen the early-2026 momentum, particularly as other global regions continue to advance their digital asset frameworks. Nevertheless, some stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic that the extra time will help lawmakers produce a more durable, comprehensive bill that balances innovation with oversight
However, for now, with the markup pushed to late January, uncertainty is likely to linger. Meanwhile, data from CoinMarketCap shows that the crypto market has seen a 1.2% increase in the past 24 hours, with top assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, trading in the green zone.
The CoinRemark Team
