The Senate Agriculture Committee has postponed the markup of the long-awaited crypto market structure legislation, formally known as the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act), pushing the vote to the last week of January 2026. The markup had originally been scheduled for January 15, 2026.
The delay reflects ongoing efforts by lawmakers to secure broader bipartisan backing before advancing the bill.
Why the Markup Was Pushed Back
Committee leaders say the additional time is necessary to avoid forcing the legislation forward without sufficient consensus.
Committee Chairman John Boozman said lawmakers are still working through outstanding details to ensure the bill can command enough support to pass both committee and floor votes. He has been negotiating closely with Cory Booker, but acknowledged that more time is needed to close remaining gaps.
Lawmakers are wary that moving too quickly could cause the bill to stall or fail outright, particularly given unresolved disagreements over key policy areas.
Key Issues Still Under Debate
Several complex topics continue to divide negotiators, slowing the path to consensus:
- DeFi regulation: How decentralized finance protocols should be supervised, if at all
- Stablecoin rewards: Whether yield-bearing stablecoins should face tighter restrictions
- Regulatory jurisdiction: How authority should be split between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
These questions strike at the core of how crypto markets would be regulated in the U.S., making compromise politically sensitive.
What Happens Next
The Agriculture Committee now plans to take up the bill during a rescheduled markup in the final week of January, where members will debate provisions, propose amendments, and vote on whether to advance it.
Meanwhile, the Senate Banking Committee is still moving ahead with its own markup on January 15, 2026, developing a separate version of crypto market structure legislation.
If both committees approve their respective bills, the two versions will need to be reconciled into a single Senate proposal before a full chamber vote. The process is further complicated by the fact that a version of the legislation has already passed the House, raising pressure on the Senate to align its approach.
For now, the delay signals caution rather than collapse, with lawmakers prioritizing durability and bipartisan support over speed as crypto regulation inches closer to a decisive moment.
