Senate Agriculture Committee Sets January Timeline for Crypto Market Structure Bill

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee is moving forward with a revised timeline for its long-awaited crypto market structure bill, signaling renewed momentum for federal cryptocurrency regulation. The committee plans to publish the full legislative text on January 21, followed by a critical markup hearing scheduled for January 27 at 3:00 p.m., according to an announcement made Tuesday.

The markup hearing, which was initially set for January 15 before being postponed, represents a pivotal stage in the legislative process. During this session, lawmakers will have the opportunity to debate proposed amendments, vote on whether those changes should be incorporated into the base bill, and ultimately decide whether the legislation should advance to the full Senate. This step is widely viewed as essential for shaping the future of crypto market oversight in the United States.

At the same time, the Senate Banking Committee is pursuing its own version of crypto market structure legislation. That committee is scheduled to hold a markup hearing later this week. A draft of the Banking Committee’s bill was released late Monday night, though senators are expected to propose amendments ahead of the hearing, potentially altering key provisions.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman said the adjusted schedule is intended to promote transparency and allow lawmakers sufficient time to review the bill. He emphasized that the goal is to establish clear and predictable rules for the cryptocurrency industry while protecting consumers and fostering American innovation. Boozman also credited Senator Cory Booker, the leading Democratic negotiator on the committee, for his collaboration on the legislation.

Despite progress, several contentious issues remain unresolved. The Agriculture Committee has not released updated draft language since its initial discussion draft, and outstanding concerns include ethics provisions related to President Donald Trump and his family’s reported involvement in crypto businesses. Another unresolved matter is whether to include quorum requirements mandating bipartisan leadership at regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, both of which currently have only Republican commissioners.

The Banking Committee’s draft similarly omits ethics and quorum language, raising concerns among some observers that the bill may lack sufficient bipartisan support. As both committees move toward markup hearings, the coming weeks are expected to be decisive for the future of U.S. crypto market regulation.