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22 Jan 2026, 05:10
US Crypto Market Structure Bill Further Delayed Until Late February or March – Report
The US Senate Banking Committee has again postponed the work on the long-awaited landmark crypto market structure bill that could create a regulatory framework for digital assets. Unnamed sources told Bloomberg that the crypto market structure legislation may be delayed by several weeks. The panel is likely to consider it in late February or March, they added. Instead of focusing on the digital asset bill, the committee will pivot to housing legislation, following President Donald Trump’s recent push for affordability . President Trump wrote that he is taking “immediate steps” on the housing bill, which remains a priority and “American Dream.” Crypto Community Isn’t Happy With it The Committee’s backburnering of the crypto bill has left the community in uncertainty, despite backers pushing for the urgent passage of the legislation. Patrick Witt, White House Executive Director of the President’s Crypto Council, called for immediate implementation of the bill . He said that it is unrealistic to expect a multi-trillion-dollar industry to operate without a comprehensive regulatory framework. The work on the crypto bill – called the CLARITY Act – stalled its planned markup after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong publicly withdrew support for the draft bill. Armstrong flagged several issues with the draft, including a de facto ban on tokenized equities. However, the Bloomberg report noted that the Banking panel’s delay might not affect the Senate Agriculture Committee’s efforts on crypto. The Agriculture Committee released its own version of that market structure bill, which the industry insiders fear might be a partisan bill lacking Democratic support. “While differences remain on fundamental policy issues, this bill builds on our bipartisan discussion draft while incorporating input from stakeholders and represents months of work,” the Committee Chairman, John Boozman, clarified. Boozman postponed this legislation markup to late January. The Agriculture Committee bill on crypto will need to get support from both Democrats and the Banking counterpart before it can continue further steps. “I Hope to Sign Very Soon:” Donald Trump President Trump confirmed that the crypto market structure bill will be signed “very soon.” Speaking at the World Economic Forum at Davos 2026, he said that his administration is working to ensure that America remains the crypto capital of the world. DAVOS 2026: President Trump says he hopes to sign the crypto market structure legislation soon, “unlocking new pathways for Americans to reach financial freedom,” including #Bitcoin . pic.twitter.com/l1ZkTGX7xl — Bitcoin.com News (@BitcoinNews) January 21, 2026 “Last year, I signed a landmark GENIUS Act into law, now Congress is working very hard on crypto market structure legislation… Bitcoin, all of them,” he spoke at Davos. “I hope to sign very soon, unlocking new pathways for Americans to reach financial freedom.” The post US Crypto Market Structure Bill Further Delayed Until Late February or March – Report appeared first on Cryptonews .
22 Jan 2026, 04:53
Senate crypto bill delayed as banking committee shifts focus to housing
The Senate’s push to set new rules for digital assets has hit a pause, with lawmakers redirecting attention to housing policy and Coinbase withdrawing its backing for the legislation. According to reports by Bloomberg and CoinDesk, the Senate Banking Committee will not return to the crypto bill immediately after postponing a planned markup hearing last week. The delay followed a public withdrawal of support by Coinbase, one of the crypto industry’s most influential lobbyists, over concerns related to stablecoin rewards and decentralized platforms. Bloomberg first reported earlier this week that the committee was unlikely to resume work on the legislation in the near term. The delay follows earlier setbacks, with two key committees having postponed scheduled markups to build broader bipartisan support. Banking Committee pauses amid industry disputes Two individuals familiar with the discussions told CoinDesk that committee Republicans and the White House want Coinbase and the broader crypto industry to resolve disagreements with the banking sector over stablecoin reward provisions before lawmakers revisit the bill. As a result, the markup — a formal session where senators debate and vote on amendments — has been postponed indefinitely. The legislation is designed to define how the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission would oversee crypto markets. However, the loss of Coinbase’s support has complicated efforts to advance the bill with sufficient industry backing. One person tracking the process said the delay would not be concerning if the Banking Committee advanced its version of the bill by Memorial Day in late March, with a full Senate vote around July 4. Under that timeline, the House of Representatives would still have time to act in September or during the lame-duck session following the midterm elections. Shift to housing and Trump’s affordability agenda The Banking Committee’s pause on crypto coincides with a broader shift in priorities. Bloomberg reported that the panel is expected to focus on housing policy following President Donald Trump’s recent push to reduce housing costs. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order barring Wall Street investors from buying single-family homes, a move widely seen as part of the administration’s effort to address affordability concerns ahead of the November midterm elections. Bloomberg said the committee may prioritize implementing the executive order, delaying crypto legislation until late February or March. The cost of living has emerged as a top voter concern, even as the Trump administration has made crypto policy a first-year priority. Agriculture committee moves ahead, bipartisan tensions remain While the Banking Committee slows its work, the Senate Agriculture Committee released its own version of the crypto market structure bill on Wednesday and scheduled a markup for next week. However, industry insiders told CoinDesk they fear the bill lacks Democratic support. Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman appeared to acknowledge those concerns, saying, “Although it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t reach an agreement, I am grateful for the collaboration that has made this legislation better. It’s time we move this bill, and I look forward to the markup next week.” Boozman added that “differences remain on fundamental policy issues,” despite input from stakeholders and bipartisan discussions. White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt criticized industry opposition to the current draft, writing on X that “it’s a question of when, not if,” a crypto market structure bill passes. “You might not love every part of the CLARITY Act, but I can guarantee you’ll hate a future Dem version even more,” he said, urging compromise to secure 60 Senate votes. Even if the Agriculture Committee advances its bill, both Democratic support and alignment with the Banking Committee will be required for the legislation to progress through the Senate. Republicans are pushing for policy wins ahead of the November midterm elections, while Polymarket odds show Democrats having a 80% chance of winning a House majority, which could derail Trump’s agenda, according to Bloomberg. The Trump administration has prioritized digital asset policy in its first year, but rising living costs have made affordability a top voter concern. The post Senate crypto bill delayed as banking committee shifts focus to housing appeared first on Invezz
22 Jan 2026, 04:30
XRP Legal Status Reaffirmed as SEC Remains Blocked From Core Security Claim
XRP’s legal standing under U.S. securities law is considered settled after the Ripple ruling, but renewed scrutiny of dropped crypto enforcement cases is reviving debate over whether regulators can revisit issues already decided by the courts. XRP Non-Security Classification Reasserted, Reducing Long-Term Regulatory Risk XRP’s legal status under U.S. securities law remains a settled but
22 Jan 2026, 04:20
The Senate committee delayed the crypto bill to focus on housing work
The Senate Banking Committee won’t be discussing crypto regulation for now because the Senate wants to focus on making housing affordable. The process that had already started for digital assets has been pushed further back, leaving companies to continue operating without oversight. The committee is expected to consider the crypto regulation law again in late February or early March 2023. It was postponed just last week, and now it seems that another postponement is looming. Members of the staff are busy with other hearings. The Senate committee delayed the crypto bill to focus on housing work The Senate Banking Committee’s scope comprises not only financial market regulation but also housing regulation. Therefore, the committee has to allocate its time between regulating financial systems and addressing issues affecting the cost of living and housing. In the past few weeks, members of the committee have pushed back their broader market structure legislation for the crypto industry. At the same time, they were focusing on proposals to alleviate consumer costs of living and, subsequently, reduce their overall cost of living, specifically on an everyday basis. According to sources outside the Senate Banking Committee, the postponement of pending crypto legislation has led to a shift in the committee’s calendar, reflecting how members are managing their workloads. This gives employees more time to examine residential development schemes, but it also pushes back the hours of the workforce and committee hearings for the pending regulations on digital currency. The change in the schedule is a result of the Senate Banking Committee rescheduling its hearings on digital assets to align with other housing-related hearings. The upcoming session would focus on initial designs for housing strategies, with ideas from experts considered. The process would involve ideas from experts who would provide in-depth perspectives. Preparation is in motion, leading to in-depth discussions in upcoming sessions. Even though it doesn’t affect all cryptocurrency-related legislation currently before the Senate, certain committees and roles should proceed as scheduled, regardless of the Banking Committee. Disagreements slowed progress on crypto market rules Support from the crypto-community for the Digital Asset Market Structure Act dropped off after mid-January, further slowing the legislative process. Coinbase , a leading US cryptocurrency exchange, publicly withdrew its support for the proposed legislation. They highlighted concerns that some provisions could stifle decentralized finance and the development of new financial instruments on the blockchain. Coinbase’s withdrawal of support reveals an underlying pattern of concern among industry players, making it difficult for federal legislators to find a middle path. This is an important implication because Congress needs to revisit parts of the law that aim to achieve an appropriate balance between promoting innovation and providing an appropriate degree of regulation. Banking organizations want Congress to limit the interest rates or yields that stablecoins can offer to depositors. The reason for this request is that if crypto companies are permitted to pay returns to investors, deposits may leave banking institutions, creating potential systemic risk. On the other hand, crypto firms claim that limiting stablecoin yields will stifle innovation in the United States and, therefore, US-based companies won’t be as competitive globally as they would be without any limitations. This conflict is causing disagreements during the drafting of the legislation, as both sides try to ensure it includes clauses that safeguard their interests, thereby delaying the process. However, some legislators are concerned about the governance standards and conflicts of interest contained in the bill. These legislators are advocating for standards that ensure these principles are enforced in a transparent manner. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
22 Jan 2026, 04:00
Vietnam Begins 5-Year Crypto Licensing Pilot To Regulate Exchanges
Vietnam has launched a pilot program to license cryptocurrency exchanges, aiming to bring the rapidly growing market into a formal legal framework after years of regulatory uncertainty. Vietnam’s Crypto Licensing Pilot Begins On Tuesday, Vietnam began its pilot licensing regime to officially regulate crypto trading platforms in the country for the first time, in an effort to gradually move the sector from the shadows into a properly supervised framework under the local financial authorities. According to local reports , the Ministry of Finance issued Decision No. 96/QD-BTC on January 20, introducing procedures necessary for the implementation of Government Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP. The three new administrative procedures cover the issuance, modification, and revocation of licenses for entities operating crypto asset trading platforms. The Ministry announced that it began accepting applications from businesses seeking to offer crypto asset trading services. For context, the country’s cryptocurrency market lacked a clear legal framework, existing in an unsupervised, “gray area.” Last year, the National Assembly passed the “Law on Digital Technology Industry,” which took effect on January 1, 2026, to create a foundation for authorities to develop suitable management policies. In September, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc signed Government Resolution No. 05/2025/NQ-CP, allowing a five-year pilot program for the issuance and trading of crypto assets. As reported by Bitcoinist, under Resolution No. 05, organizations seeking to provide services for crypto trading markets must be registered with the financial authorities and fully comply with a strict set of rules, including a minimum contributed charter capital of VND10 trillion, worth around $380.66 million. Notably, at least 65% of the charter capital must be held by institutional investors, with more than 35% contributed by at least two institutions such as commercial banks, securities companies, fund management companies, insurance companies, or technology enterprises. The general director must have at least two years of experience in finance, while the CTO must have at least five years of experience in information technology. Moreover, firms must hire at least 10 technology staff with cybersecurity certificates and at least 10 staff with securities practice certificates working in other departments. Financial Institutions Dive Into Digital Assets Following the issuance of Resolution No. 05, major financial players, including securities companies and banking institutions, have announced their intention to participate in the pilot and enter the sector, noted the report. In June, two SSI’s subsidiaries, SSI Digital Technology JSC and SSI Asset Management Company Limited, signed Memorandums of Understanding with Tether, U2U Network, and Amazon Web Services to develop a digital financial ecosystem in Vietnam based on blockchain and cloud computing platforms. In addition, VIX Securities contributed capital to establish the VIX Crypto Asset Exchange and partnered with tech giant FPT Corp. to prepare its technology infrastructure. Meanwhile, the banking sector saw MBBank enter a technical cooperation agreement with Dunamu, the operator of the Korean exchange Upbit, to establish a crypto exchange in Vietnam while jointly developing the legal framework and investor protection mechanisms. Techcombank also established the Techcom Crypto Asset Exchange with a charter capital of several hundred billion VND. Similarly, VPBank stated it is fully prepared to begin operations as soon as it receives regulatory approval.
22 Jan 2026, 03:00
Solana Policy Institute President’s Top Priorities For CLARITY Act And Latest Update On The Bill
As discussions surrounding the CLARITY Act—often referred to as the crypto market structure bill—continue in Washington, Kristin Smith, President of the Solana Policy Institute, has provided insights on the current status of the legislation and the organization’s top priorities . Solana Policy Institute’s Optimism For CLARITY Act One of the main priorities disclosed by Smith in a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), is the importance of protecting open-source developers in the legislative landscape. Smith pointed out that the recent delay in the markup of the market structure bill last week after Coinbase’s withdrawal should be seen as a temporary setback. “Despite the delay, industry engagement remains robust, and there is clear bipartisan support to achieve durable regulatory clarity for market structure,” she noted. The Senate Agriculture Committee is making advancements with its own draft of the legislation expected to be released on Wednesday, as earlier reported by Bitcoinist. Smith also highlighted a shared objective: to create a framework that protects consumers, fosters innovation, and provides certainty for developers operating in the United States. A central tenet of this goal is the safeguarding of developers, which Smith argued is crucial for the success of the industry. Smith Advocates For Developer Protections The Solana Institute was founded to ensure that policymakers gain a comprehensive understanding of public blockchains and the protocols that underpin them. Smith articulated the critical role that open-source software plays within the crypto ecosystem , noting that developers around the world collaborate to produce software that anyone can inspect, use, or improve. “Openness is a strength—not a liability,” she asserted. However, she raised concerns regarding the case against Roman Storm of Tornado Cash, indicating that it treats open-source innovation as something questionable. Smith warned that penalizing developers merely for writing and publishing open-source code endangers all those involved in such collaborative efforts. She emphasized the “chilling effect” that the prosecution could have on open-source developers , asserting that writing code is an expressive act protected by the First Amendment. Smith called for clear policy that differentiates between bad actors and developers working on lawful, general-purpose tools. To bolster this cause, she encouraged supporters to draft letters expressing their stance in favor of open-source protections. Roman Storm responded to Smith’s support, thanking her and the broader community for advocating for open-source principles. He remarked, “Criminalizing the act of writing and publishing code threatens not just one developer, but the foundations of digital security, privacy, and innovation.” At the time of writing, Solana’s native token, SOL, was trading at $130.33, mirroring the performance of the broader crypto market, dropping 11% in the weekly time frame. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
