<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div><p>After a year marked by legislative paralysis and a historic government shutdown, US lawmakers are preparing to open 2026 with renewed momentum on digital asset regulation. Senate committees are expected to revisit long-delayed market structure legislation in January, signaling an effort to reset crypto policy discussions after months of stagnation.</p><div><div><blockquote><div dir="ltr" lang="en"><p>🇺🇸 USA</p><p>Senate hearings on the CLARITY Act kick off in January to settle SEC/CFTC turf wars, designate Bitcoin and Ether as commodities, and unlock institutional flows. SEC launches a safe harbor the same month, ending regulation by enforcement. California mandates licensing for… pic.twitter.com/3fBgKe3MdO</p></div>— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) January 1, 2026</blockquote></div></div><p>Members of the Senate Banking Committee are expected to hold a markup of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act during the second week of January, according to people familiar with the matter. </p><p>The move would mark the first substantive advance on market structure legislation since progress stalled in 2025, when Democratic concerns over decentralized finance and the longest government shutdown in US history derailed negotiations.</p><p>Cody Carbone, CEO of digital asset advocacy group The Digital Chamber, revealed </p><blockquote>&#34;The second week of January wil have at least one markup on pending market structure legislation in the Senate.&#34;</blockquote><div><div><blockquote><div dir="ltr" lang="en"><p>🚨 The $CLARITY Act — the U.S. $crypto market structure bill — has been delayed until 2026 as Senate action stalls. This means federal regulatory clarity for digital #assets won’t happen this year, keeping the industry in limbo 📉 </p><p>No law = more uncertainty<br/>More delay = more… pic.twitter.com/gpuUTMQGUU</p></div>— COACHTY (@TheRealTRTalks) December 18, 2025</blockquote></div></div><p>The Senate Agriculture Committee is also continuing to work on its own version of the bill, a necessary step before any potential floor vote.</p><p>The January timeline positions digital asset regulation as one of the first major policy tests of 2026, reflecting growing pressure on lawmakers to address regulatory uncertainty that has lingered since enforcement actions intensified across the crypto sector.</p><p>The Senate effort builds on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which passed the House of Representatives in July 2025. The House bill is hoping to give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission greater authority over the cryptocurrency market, a shift widely viewed as an attempt to bring clearer regulatory oversight to an industry long caught between competing agencies.</p><p>Senate drafts of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act have emphasized closer coordination between the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission, aiming to resolve jurisdictional disputes that have complicated compliance for exchanges, issuers and investors. </p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">🇺🇸 TODAY: Senator Lummis says, “The Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2026 allows major banks to offer digital asset custody, staking, and payments under proper supervision.” pic.twitter.com/MfvrpUAw5w</p>— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) January 1, 2026</blockquote></div></div><p>Lawmakers are expected to revisit contentious issues including consumer protection standards, treatment of stablecoins and how decentralized financial protocols fit within existing regulatory frameworks.</p><p>While industry advocates have welcomed renewed Senate engagement, it remains unclear whether the legislation can secure enough votes to pass in the Senate, should it be presented for a floor vote. </p><p>Despite January’s renewed momentum, political headwinds remain. Lawmakers have warned that the approach of the 2026 midterm elections could again slow progress, as legislative priorities shift toward campaigning. </p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">MIDTERMS ON THE HORIZON@davezere warns the 2026 midterm clock is already ticking: “early voting starts…9 or 10 months,” with “18 incumbents…retiring.” He says Republicans “can only afford to lose a few seats” and previews key swing districts.@RealDrGina@TBatesNews… pic.twitter.com/n7EMmcFfTw</p>— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) January 1, 2026</blockquote></div></div><p>Uncertainty has also increased following Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis’ decision not to seek reelection in 2026. Lummis, one of the Senate’s most vocal advocates for crypto legislation and a co-sponsor of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, said in December that she would step aside after one term.</p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2026 allows major banks to offer digital asset custody, staking, &amp; payments under proper supervision. Digital assets are integral to our financial system, &amp; bringing them into regulated banking protects consumers while unleashing growth</p>— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) December 31, 2025</blockquote></div></div><p>The lawmaker, who will have served one term in the Senate, said her energy didn't &#34;match up&#34; with what was required to be able to serve for another six years.  However, she has pledged to continue pushing the bill forward before leaving office.</p><p>For the crypto industry, January’s markup represents both a reset after 2025’s legislative deadlock and a narrowing opportunity to establish federal market structure rules before political pressures intensify later in the year. Whether the early momentum can be sustained remains an open question as Congress balances regulatory ambition against an increasingly crowded election calendar.</p></div></div></div>

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<p>US lawmakers are set to advance digital asset regulation in January 2026 after a year of legislative stagnation. Senate committees will revisit the CLARITY Act and the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, aiming to clarify the roles of the SEC and CFTC and establish market structure for cryptocurrencies. Despite renewed momentum, political challenges loom as the 2026 midterm elections approach, potentially hindering progress. Key issues include consumer protection, stablecoin treatment, and decentralized finance regulation. The outcome remains uncertain as lawmakers navigate a crowded election calendar.</p>

American Crypto Law Enters a Decisive Phase in January 2026