The US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.
Daniel Heuer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Lawmakers this week plan to revisit efforts to pass a market structure bill that will determine the crypto industry’s future in the U.S. — reviving legislative efforts that stagnated last year.
On Thursday, the Senate Agriculture and Banking Committees are expected to hold hearings on their respective parts of the crypto bill, where they might revise the text. This will lay the groundwork for establishing legislative guardrails for digital assets in the U.S. — a potential watershed moment for the crypto industry.
Understanding the Market Structure Bill
The so-called Clarity Act aims to provide legislative guardrails for the multitrillion-dollar crypto market and big digital asset firms — which could accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology and crypto in the U.S.
It seeks to clarify the Securities and Exchange Commission’s and Commodities Futures Trading Commission’s roles in regulating cryptocurrencies, in addition to creating more well-defined token classifications. It also aims to outline registration and compliance standards for a wide range of crypto brokerages, exchanges and other entities, enabling them to operate more easily in the U.S.
Key Issues to be Addressed
Lawmakers will attempt to hash out three key issues this week: stablecoin-linked rewards; the treatment of decentralized finance platforms and their developers; and the matter of blocking elected officials such as President Donald Trump from profiting off of crypto ventures. Trump-affiliated entities have launched both a memecoin and nonfungible token in the past.
The stablecoin issue is “the biggest outstanding issue” for negotiations on the Hill, said Cody Carbone, CEO of crypto trade association Digital Chamber.
Implications for the Crypto Industry
Crypto proponents want to see the bill passed before the 2026 midterm elections in case some of the industry’s allies are unseated in November and to avoid losing momentum on the Hill, Mersinger told CNBC.
“There’s a lot of other priorities Congress has on the books for this year, and so this is kind of the key window that they see to get something to move out of committee onto the floor and have the time that’s needed to get it done,” Mersinger said.
Smart Tip for Readers
To stay informed about the developments in the crypto market structure bill, readers can follow reputable news sources and track updates from the Senate Agriculture and Banking Committees. By doing so, they can gain a better understanding of the potential implications for the crypto industry and make informed decisions.
Read more about the crypto market structure bill and its potential impact on the industry Here
