U.S. Senate Crypto Market Structure Bill Advances 12–11 as Partisan Rift Deepens

Committee Vote, Regulator Signals, and White House Talks Converge on Digital Asset Legislation

TL;DR

• Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a crypto market structure bill by a 12–11 vote on Jan. 29, 2026.
• Democrats withheld support, citing concerns tied to President Donald Trump’s crypto interests.
• SEC and CFTC leadership publicly endorsed clearer rules as Trump scheduled a Feb. 2, 2026 meeting with industry leaders.

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The U.S. Senate’s push to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets crossed a procedural threshold after the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its version of a crypto market structure bill by a 12–11 party-line vote on Jan. 29, 2026, marking the first time such legislation has cleared a Senate committee. The measure would expand the Commodity Futures Trading  Commission’s authority over large segments of the crypto industry while addressing long-standing jurisdictional disputes with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to lawmakers involved in the markup.

Democrats on the committee declined to back the bill, pointing to concerns over President Donald Trump’s personal and family involvement in crypto ventures. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said bipartisan negotiations had produced a discussion draft released in November 2025 before talks stalled, telling colleagues, “But then I come back to Washington and start the year with the news that my Republican colleagues were walking away from the bipartisan process that produced the draft.” Booker added, “Let's get back to work,” and said, “We can finish this in the next week or two in a bipartisan way.”

Republican members rejected claims that negotiations had collapsed over substance, arguing that Trump’s crypto ties were being used to justify a partisan break from months of committee-level collaboration. The vote set the stage for a potential full Senate consideration later this year, though the bill’s path forward remains contested as lawmakers continue to debate regulatory scope, consumer protections, and the balance of power between financial watchdogs.

Regulatory leaders weighed in as the bill advanced, with SEC Chair Paul Atkins saying “time is right for pension funds to include crypto,” and CFTC Chair Mike Selig stating that “digital assets set to flourish” once Congress resolves market structure authority. Both comments were made publicly on Jan. 29, 2026, as agencies prepared for potential statutory changes tied to the legislation.

Political momentum extended beyond Capitol Hill, with President Trump scheduled to host senior executives from crypto firms, banks, and trade groups at the White House on Feb. 2, 2026. The meeting is intended to address the stalled Digital Asset Market Clarity Bill and ongoing disputes over stablecoin regulation, according to people familiar with the plans, as the administration seeks to broker agreement between traditional financial institutions and crypto-native companies.

This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.