Senate | Crypto

With the CLARITY Act scheduled for a markup on Thursday, some lawmakers could still be at odds over decentralized finance, stablecoins and ethical concerns. As US senators prepare to mark up a major crypto market structure bill this week, industry leaders are weighing in on proposed changes that could shape whether stablecoin holders can earn interest and rewards. According to an amended draft of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act released on Monday, the bill states that “a digital asset service provider may not pay any form of interest or yield [...] solely in connection with the holding of a payment stablecoin,” effectively barring passive, deposit-like returns on stablecoin balances. The draft leaves room for structured reward mechanisms, as stablecoin rewards would not be prohibited under certain circumstances, including “providing liquidity or collateral” or “governance, validation, staking, or other ecosystem participation.” Read more

The GENIUS Act banned issuer-paid yield, but the Senate markup fight is whether exchanges can keep routing rewards around that restriction, and the answer could decide who controls $6 billion in annual incentives. Senate Banking is scheduled to consider the CLARITY Act on Jan. 15, and the legislative fight has narrowed to a single question […] The post The US Senate could wipe out $6 billion in crypto rewards this week by closing one specific loophole appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The US crypto industry has launched a unified push for Congress to pass federal market-structure legislation, known as the “Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025” (H.R. 3633). The legislation is viewed by industry proponents as the necessary “missing layer” of federal law to allow the industry to thrive. While the “GENIUS Act” established baseline […] The post Crypto firms like Ripple are betting on a Senate deal that is rapidly unraveling behind closed doors appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Harriet Hageman’s “Soon” teaser on X sharpens talk of a 2026 Senate bid to replace crypto ally Cynthia Lummis, raising the stakes for Wyoming’s pro‑crypto brand. Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman fueled speculation about a 2026 Senate run after posting a cryptic video days after Senator Cynthia Lummis announced she will not seek reelection. ​The five-second clip shows the congresswoman alongside a single-word caption: “Soon.” It breaks a months‑long lull on her account and bolsters speculation that she is eyeing Lummis’ open seat. Wyoming’s Senate seat has been a reliable voice in advancing regulatory clarity for the crypto industry, from market structure bills and stablecoin regulation to banking access. Whoever replaces Lummis will help decide whether crypto keeps a dedicated champion in the Senate. Read more

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently argued that the launch of TRUMP three days before President Donald Trump's inauguration derailed what would have been a 70-vote Senate majority for the CLARITY Act and turned a unified crypto-policy push into a partisan battle. In an interview, Hoskinson said that in December 2024, “we were expecting about 70 […] The post Charles Hoskinson argues the TRUMP token cost crypto a 70-vote Senate win and sparked the Bitcoin-only crisis appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The legislation, which many have criticized for being overly restrictive for the digital asset market, was reintroduced with “not even a comma” changed, according to one lawmaker. The Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s legislature, has again passed a bill that could impose restrictions on the cryptocurrency market, following the country’s president’s veto of an earlier attempt. In a Thursday vote, Polish lawmakers voted 241 for and 183 against the Crypto-Assets Market Act, a bill previously vetoed by President Karol Nawrocki. On Friday, the bill was sent to the Senate for further consideration. The crypto bill is intended to align Poland’s regulations with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework, with member states expected to transition by July 2026. The same version of the bill, which passed the lower house in September, received criticism from some lawmakers and industry advocates, who claimed it could threaten the country’s crypto market and its users.  Read more

The legislation, which many have criticized for being overly restrictive for the digital asset market, was reintroduced with “not even a comma” changed, according to one lawmaker. The Sejm, the lower house of Poland’s legislature, has again passed a bill that could impose restrictions on the cryptocurrency market, following the country’s president’s veto of an earlier attempt. In a Thursday vote, Polish lawmakers voted 241 for and 183 against the Crypto-Assets Market Act, a bill previously vetoed by President Karol Nawrocki. On Friday, the bill was sent to the Senate for further consideration. The crypto bill is intended to align Poland’s regulations with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework, with member states expected to transition by July 2026. The same version of the bill, which passed the lower house in September, received criticism from some lawmakers and industry advocates, who claimed it could threaten the country’s crypto market and its users.  Read more

Mike Selig pledged to make crypto a priority when he was picked to lead the CFTC in October, while Travis Hill has spoken out against crypto debanking. The US Senate has confirmed crypto-friendly lawyer Mike Selig as the new chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and has elevated Travis Hill to chair the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The two confirmations were included in a package of nearly 100 other nominees that the Trump administration had selected for various roles across the government, which passed the Senate in a 53-43 vote on Thursday. Selig, who has previous experience at the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission, pledged to make crypto a priority when he was nominated in October after he was picked to take over from the previous nominee, Brian Quintenz. Read more

In a package of confirmations, the U.S. Senate approved Mike Selig to lead the CFTC and Travis Hill to run the FDIC, both with major potential reach into crypto.

White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks said the CLARITY Act will reach the Senate next month for debate and amendment before a full vote. The long-awaited Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, or CLARITY Act, is moving closer to law, with a Senate markup expected in January, says White House artificial intelligence and crypto czar David Sacks. Sacks posted to X on Thursday that Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott and Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman had confirmed that the bipartisan crypto bill will be shaped up by the Senate next month. The CLARITY Act would define crypto securities and commodities and clarify the roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and other financial regulators. Read more

The bank said bipartisan Senate talks on market structure legislation and parallel GENIUS Act rulemaking could deliver a workable U.S. crypto framework by early 2026.

John Deaton’s campaign announcement primarily focused on his background and cost-of-living issues, but he spoke about digital assets during his 2024 run for the US Senate. John Deaton, a lawyer who advocates for XRP holders and ran against Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren in the 2024 US election, is making another bid for Congress. At a Monday event in Worcester, Massachusetts, Deaton announced that he would run for US Senate again in 2026, this time attempting to unseat Democratic Senator Ed Markey. The lawyer ran as the Republican candidate in 2024, losing to Warren, a Democrat, by about 700,000 votes. “I’m winning this time,” Deaton said in a campaign video aired at the Worcester event. Read more

Some agencies, such as the SEC, are expected to reopen the day after a funding bill becomes law, more than 40 days after reducing their operations and staff. The US government is moving closer to reopening after more than 40 days of being shut down, following several Democratic lawmakers in the Senate siding with Republicans to pass a funding bill. On Monday, the US Senate held a late-night vote for a bill “continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026,” which passed 60 to 40 in the chamber. The bill is expected to fund the government through Jan. 31, 2026, provided it passes in the House of Representatives and is signed into law by President Donald Trump. As Tuesday is a US federal holiday, the House is not expected to reconvene to vote on the bill until Wednesday at the earliest. Prediction platform Polymarket has already adjusted its expectation that the US government will return to normal operations on Friday, likely following the passage of the House bill. Read more

A new bipartisan crypto market structure bill in the U.S. Senate could dramatically expand the powers of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), giving it sweeping oversight of digital commodities, but unresolved gaps and political gridlock still threaten its passage.The discussion draft, released by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Senator Cory Booker […] The post Senate’s New Crypto Market Structure Bill Supercharges CFTC — But Major Gaps Remain appeared first on Cryptonews.

Crypto markets could get a lift as Politico reports the US Senate has reached a deal on a multi-part budget bill to end the government shutdown. The crypto market could soon see some much-needed relief after the US Senate reached an agreement on a three-part budget deal to end the government shutdown, Politico reports. Pending legislation to fund the US government has more than enough support to pass the 60-vote threshold, Politico reported on Sunday, citing two people familiar with the matter. It was Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s 15th attempt to win Democratic support for a House-approved bill, putting the record 40-day government shutdown within reach of being lifted. Read more

Some Republicans’ initial plans to have crypto market structure out of committee by November have been sidetracked by the government shutdown. The shutdown of the US government entered its 38th day on Friday, with the Senate set to vote on a funding bill that could temporarily restore operations. According to the US Senate’s calendar of business on Friday, the chamber will consider a House of Representatives continuing resolution to fund the government. It’s unclear whether the bill will cross the 60-vote threshold needed to pass in the Senate after numerous failed attempts in the previous weeks. Amid the shutdown, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have reportedly continued discussions on the digital asset market structure bill. The legislation, passed as the CLARITY Act in the House in July and referred to as the Responsible Financial Innovation Act in the Senate, is expected to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in the US.  Read more

The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act could create even more economic pain for the crypto mining industry if passed. The US Senate has advanced sweeping AI legislation under the National Defense Authorization Act, compelling chipmakers to serve US customers first before exporting advanced processors abroad. On Thursday, senators passed the Guaranteeing Access and Innovation for National Artificial Intelligence Act of 2026, or GAIN Act, as an amendment to National Defense Authorization Act, requiring AI and high-performance chipmakers to prioritize domestic orders before exporting their products. The GAIN Act also gives Congress the right to deny export licenses for the most high-end AI processors and mandates export licenses for all products containing an “advanced integrated circuit.”  “Over the past several years, US firms have faced regular backlogs in purchasing chips. In late 2024, Nvidia’s Blackwell line was booked out roughly 12 months ahead,” according to policy advocacy group “Ameri...

As the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, Jonathan McKernan can influence policies on banking and a US digital dollar. A majority of lawmakers in the US Senate voted to confirm Jonathan McKernan as Under Secretary for Domestic Finance at the Department of the Treasury. In a Tuesday vote of 51 to 47, the Senate confirmed McKernan to the US Treasury, serving under Secretary Scott Bessent. Though the US government has been shut down since lawmakers failed to pass a bill extending funding beyond Sept. 30, Congress can essentially continue to operate. McKernan, nominated to the Treasury by US President Donald Trump in June, has previously suggested opposition to debanking policies in the government, but did not explicitly tie the alleged practice to any association with digital assets. In a December X post, he cited an article from economist Tyler Cowen questioning whether the US banking system could “integrate with crypto.” Read more

Stephen Miran has made few public statements on crypto or blockchain, but signaled in interviews before joining the Trump administration that he would support digital assets. The US Senate Banking Committee has advanced the nomination of Stephen Miran to a temporary position on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors after another member resigned in August.  In a Wednesday meeting, the banking committee voted along party lines, 13 to 11, to advance Miran’s nomination to the full Senate for consideration. All Democrats voted against the potential Fed governor, while Republicans, in the majority, voted in favor. Miran, whom President Donald Trump picked to chair the Council of Economic Advisors in December, said during a hearing last week that he would not resign from his role advising the White House if his time as a Fed governor were extended past January. If confirmed, he would fill a term vacated by Fed member Adriana Kugler, ending on Jan. 31.   Read more

The US Senate has added a provision to its crypto bill confirming that tokenized stocks remain securities, preserving their fit within existing financial frameworks. The US Senate updated its crypto market structure bill on Friday, adding a key provision to clarify how tokenized assets are regulated. The new clause would ensure that stocks and other securities remain classified as securities when tokenized on a blockchain, avoiding potential confusion over whether they should fall under commodities regulation. The distinction is important for digital asset firms working on tokenization. Stocks are already regulated as securities. When tokenized, keeping them as securities confirms they stay compatible with broker-dealer frameworks, clearing systems and trading platforms. Read more