The U.S. Senate Banking Committee canceled a January 15 markup of the 278-page CLARITY Act after Coinbase withdrew support and industry criticism mounted over amendments allegedly favoring banks and traditional finance, crypto reporter EleanorTerrett reports. Critics say the revised text on stablecoin yields and tokenization tilts the bill toward legacy players, while some Democrats seek ethics restrictions barring senior officials from profiting from crypto projects. Committee Chair Tim Scott said "everyone remains at the negotiating table working in good faith" but gave no new markup date; the Senate reconvenes after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when the Agriculture Committee will hold a separate delayed hearing.

Bank of England Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden said on Jan. 15 the UK may need to provide protections for stablecoin deposits similar to bank savings, Bloomberg reports. He said the central bank is assessing how to maintain public trust in money if a systemically important stablecoin fails.

The Senate Banking Committee canceled a Thursday markup session for the CLARITY Act on Jan. 15, with no rescheduled date announced, BlockBeats reports. The bill, released Monday evening, seeks to clarify regulatory jurisdiction between the CFTC and SEC, define when digital assets are securities or commodities, and set new disclosure requirements. Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego told reporters he cannot support the legislation after Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President's Digital Assets Advisory Council, failed to attend an expected meeting. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong subsequently withdrew the company's backing, citing concerns over provisions on stablecoin yield, tokenized equity and decentralized finance, though some crypto firms and advocacy groups said they will continue working toward passage in 2026.

JPMorgan expects cryptocurrency inflows to increase in 2026 after a record $130 billion in 2025, The Block reported. According to the report, the bank’s forecast is based on growing institutional interest in digital asset products, including spot exchange-traded funds and similar offerings.

Coinbase has said it cannot support the Senate Banking Committee’s draft cryptocurrency market structure legislation ahead of a scheduled committee vote on Thursday, according to a report by CoinDesk. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong outlined concerns including what he described as a de facto ban on tokenized equities, provisions affecting decentralized finance that would grant government access to financial records, a reduction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s authority relative to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and amendments limiting stablecoin rewards that he said would favor banks over nonbank competitors. The bill seeks to delineate regulatory oversight of digital assets between the SEC and CFTC and is advancing in the Senate after negotiations among lawmakers, CoinDesk reported.

Federal Reserve official Paulson said on Jan. 14 the current monetary policy stance is "slightly restrictive," BlockBeats reports. He noted cautious optimism that inflation will return to target and added a small rate cut later this year may be appropriate.

The Federal Reserve's independence faces intensified scrutiny after the Trump administration launched a criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell over the cost of renovating the Fed's headquarters, BlockBeats reports. Powell said the probe stems not from his testimony or the construction project itself, but from the Fed's refusal to align interest rate decisions with the president's preferences, calling it a threat to independent monetary policymaking. While the episode briefly unsettled markets, large corporations and CEOs have largely avoided public comment, though private surveys by Yale CEO Leadership Institute founder Jeffrey Sonnenfeld show 71% of CEOs believe the administration is eroding Fed independence and 80% view political pressure for rate cuts as contrary to U.S. interests. Analysts cited by BlockBeats say many executives fear political retaliation, some quietly lobby policymakers, and others are betting Trump may ultimately retreat from more aggressive moves.