U.S. Congress Sets January 15 Markups for Competing Crypto Market Structure Bills

Washington's crypto showdown gets a date: January 15.

Clash of the Titans

Two competing visions for America's digital asset future hit the markup table in less than a week. One bill promises regulatory clarity—a long-awaited roadmap for builders. The other pushes for tighter reins, aiming to corral what some lawmakers still call the 'wild west' of finance. The numbers are stark: billions in market cap hang in the balance, waiting for a signal from the Hill.

What's at Stake?

Forget vague promises. This is about hard rules. Who gets to call a token a security? Which agency—the SEC or CFTC—takes the lead? The answers will either unlock institutional capital or send it fleeing. Industry lobbyists have been circling for years, and now their moment arrives. The timing is no accident—it's a calculated move in an election year, where crypto voters are suddenly a demographic worth courting.

The Bottom Line

Markup day isn't the finish line; it's the starting gun. Amendments will fly. Deals will be cut in backrooms over bad coffee. The final product will be a patchwork, a classic Washington compromise that leaves everyone slightly dissatisfied. But for a sector starving for direction, any direction is better than none. Watch the language on custody, exchanges, and token classification—that's where the real battles lie. One cynical take? Wall Street's old guard is just fine with regulatory uncertainty—it keeps the disruptive newcomers in check.

Washington is approaching a pivotal moment for U.S. digital asset policy, as Congress prepares to revive long-stalled efforts to regulate the crypto sector.

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