Senate Delays Major Crypto Bill Vote, Pushing Decisions to 2026

Table of Contents

TLDR:

U.S. Senate delays crypto bill vote, extending uncertainty into 2026.
Senate Banking Committee pushes crypto bill vote to early 2026.
Regulatory delay leaves crypto industry waiting for clarity.
Crypto bill’s fate pushed to 2026, as Senate negotiates key details.
Senate’s crypto bill decision delayed, extending regulatory limbo.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has decided to delay its vote on a significant crypto bill, extending regulatory uncertainty into 2026. Despite months of bipartisan negotiations, the committee will now push its decision to early next year. This delay means that crypto market structure legislation will not be finalized by the end of 2025, as previously anticipated. Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott, alongside Democratic counterparts, has opted for more time to negotiate before moving forward with the bill.

Bipartisan Talks Extend Into 2026

The delay follows intense discussions between Republicans and Senate Democrats over the past several weeks. Both parties have worked to find common ground on how to structure regulations for digital assets. However, disagreements have prompted the decision to hold off on a vote until 2026. According to Jeff Naft, a spokesperson for Chairman Scott, both sides are committed to creating a bipartisan framework for the crypto bill. The committee aims to provide clarity for the digital asset industry and establish rules that make the U.S. a global leader in cryptocurrency.

This decision extends the timeline for legislation that was originally expected to be completed in 2025. Senate Republicans and Democrats have expressed the need for more time to refine key aspects of the crypto market structure. Democrats, in particular, have pushed for extended talks to address concerns over regulatory oversight and definitions in the bill. The move to delay the vote means that crypto businesses will have to wait longer for clear guidelines on the legal landscape.

Uncertainty Continues Over Crypto Regulations

The Senate Banking Committee’s delay signals that no major crypto market structure legislation will be passed in 2025. This setback leaves companies in the digital asset space facing continued uncertainty about how they will be regulated. Industry participants were hoping for clarity before the holiday recess, but the delay means that a final decision will now be deferred until next year. The ongoing negotiations will focus on dividing regulatory responsibilities and defining critical terms in the crypto space.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has not yet scheduled its own markup for crypto legislation, signaling further delays. With both committees facing timing issues, progress on the crypto bill appears to have slowed significantly. The original hopes of synchronizing efforts between the two committees are now unlikely, with key decisions pushed into early 2026. While discussions continue, the delay exacerbates the regulatory uncertainty for crypto firms operating in the U.S.