US Senators Set to Vote on Amendments to Crypto Market Structure Bill

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TLDR

US lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill after weather delays and will focus on amendments to the crypto market structure bill.
The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss proposed changes to the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act.
A proposed amendment would ban lawmakers and White House officials from engaging with the crypto industry.
Another proposal seeks to address foreign interference in US markets and force companies to compete on credit card swipe fees.
Senator Amy Klobuchar’s amendment would delay the bill’s implementation until the CFTC has four confirmed commissioners.

US lawmakers are set to return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after bad weather delayed key meetings and votes. Focus now shifts to how senators will handle amendments to the long-anticipated crypto market structure bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss proposed changes to the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act (DCIA), which aims to establish a regulatory framework for digital asset markets.

Proposed Amendments to Crypto Market Structure Bill

One of the key proposals involves banning lawmakers and White House officials from engaging with the crypto industry. This amendment, if passed, could tighten restrictions on government officials interacting with crypto companies. Another proposal looks at making companies compete on credit card swipe fees, which would impact the broader financial services landscape.

Furthermore, senators are considering provisions that would address foreign interference in US markets. The DCIA bill would allow the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to regulate certain aspects of the digital asset market, but only once there are at least four confirmed commissioners. This amendment, introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, aims to prevent the bill from taking effect until the CFTC has enough leadership in place.

CFTC Amendment Draws Attention

The CFTC amendment has drawn significant attention due to the ongoing leadership issues at the agency. Following the resignation of acting chair Caroline Pham and other members in 2025, the agency is left with only one confirmed commissioner, Chair Michael Selig. The proposed amendment would delay the implementation of the crypto market structure bill until the Senate confirms at least four commissioners to lead the CFTC.

Klobuchar’s amendment highlights concerns about the agency’s capacity to manage the increased responsibilities brought on by digital asset regulation. Without a full slate of commissioners, the CFTC may struggle to implement the bill effectively. This issue has become a focal point in the discussions surrounding the bill’s future.

The DCIA bill is intended to establish a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets, with roles for both the SEC and the CFTC. However, the bill has faced pushback from some lawmakers and industry leaders, especially over provisions concerning stablecoins, tokenized equities, decentralized finance, and ethics.