Senate Crypto Market Structure Vote Delayed as Storm Hits Washington
Why Was the Senate Crypto Markup Delayed?
US lawmakers have postponed several key events tied to digital asset regulation later than a severe winter storm disrupted travel and operations across large parts of the country. The delays affect both congressional efforts to define crypto market structure and coordination between federal financial regulators.
The Senate Agriculture Committee has moved a scheduled markup of its crypto market structure bill from Tuesday to Thursday. A spokesperson for Committee Chair John Boozman said the delay applied to consideration of the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, the panel’s proposal to clarify the authority over digital asset markets.
While the committee did not formally cite weather as the reason, the postponement followed a storm that caused widespread power outages, flight cancellations, and school closures, including in Washington, D.C. Local reports described treacherous road conditions over the weekend, limiting the ability of lawmakers and staff to attend in-person proceedings.
Investor Takeaway
Regulators Also Push Back Joint Crypto Oversight Event
The storm-related disruption extended beyond Capitol Hill. The said on Monday that a joint event with the Securities and platform Commission focused on crypto oversight coordination would be delayed by two days, also to Thursday.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig and SEC Chair Paul Atkins are now expected to discuss what the agencies described as “harmonization between the two agencies” on digital assets later in the week. The discussion is part of a broader effort to address overlapping jurisdiction and gaps in supervision between the two regulators.
As with the Senate delay, neither agency explicitly linked the rescheduling to the weather. However, the timing closely tracked the storm’s impact on Washington-area operations, suggesting a shared logistical cause.
Second Senate Attempt to Tackle Market Structure
The Agriculture Committee’s markup represents the Senate’s second active attempt to advance a comprehensive this year. Earlier in January, Republican leadership on the Senate Banking Committee canceled a markup of a similar bill, halting that effort without setting a new date.
That earlier cancellation followed public criticism from industry participants. In particular, Coinbase chief executive Brian Armstrong said in a social media post that the platform could not support the Banking Committee bill in its existing form. Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott subsequently said the markup would be canceled indefinitely.
As a result, attention has shifted to the Agriculture Committee, which overviews the CFTC and is pursuing its own approach to defining how should be regulated. The outcome of this markup will be closely watched as an indicator of whether the Senate can move forward on crypto policy at all this session.
Democrats Push Ethics and Foreign Influence Amendments
Lawmakers on the Agriculture Committee are expected to consider 11 amendments when the markup proceeds. Several proposals from Democratic senators focus on ethics and conflicts of interest tied to public officials and the digital asset industry.
One amendment, introduced by Senator Michael Bennet, would incorporate elements of the Digital Asset Ethics Act into the market structure bill. The proposal would bar individuals running for Congress or the White House from , addressing concerns about personal financial exposure influencing policy decisions.
Other amendments are expected to address foreign interference risks, reflecting broader anxiety in Congress about how global crypto markets intersect with national security and election integrity.
For the bill to advance beyond committee, it is expected to require at least some Democratic backing. That reality gives amendments added weight, as they may determine whether the legislation can secure enough support to reach a full Senate vote.
Investor Takeaway
Shutdown Risk Adds Another Layer of Uncertainty
Beyond weather-related disruptions, a larger procedural risk is looming. Lawmakers face a deadline at the end of January to pass a federal funding bill. Failure to reach agreement could trigger a government shutdown.
A shutdown would likely stall committee work and floor votes, further delaying progress on crypto legislation regardless of political support. Market structure proposals would be competing for attention with budget negotiations, limiting the time available for detailed debate.
Taken together, the storm-related delays, unresolved industry disagreements, and funding deadline underline how fragile the crypto policy timeline remains. Even with bipartisan interest in clarifying oversight, external factors continue to sluggish momentum.
