U.S. Crypto Market Structure Bill Delayed to February–March 2026 as SEC and CFTC Tighten Coordination

In January 2026, U.S. crypto legislation stalled again as Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott’s market structure bill was pushed back to late February or March and faced resistance from Senate Judiciary leaders Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin over a developer exemption. The Senate Agriculture Committee, led by John Boozman, set a January 27 markup without Democratic backing, while CFTC Chair Michael Selig launched the "Future-Proof" initiative and SEC Chair Paul Atkins oversaw a 60% drop in crypto enforcement actions in 2025, alongside new SEC–CFTC coordination efforts. These moves highlight how regulatory agencies are assuming a larger role as Congress struggles to finalize a durable framework for U.S. digital asset markets.