By Micah Jonah
January 30, 2026
A proposed cryptocurrency regulation bill has advanced in the United States Senate, however, significant political hurdles remain before it can become law.
The Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday approved the bill along party lines, a move that signals limited bipartisan backing ahead of a full Senate vote. If enacted, the legislation would establish a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies by granting the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority over spot crypto markets. It would also introduce rules for digital commodity exchanges, brokers, dealers.
Supporters within the crypto industry argue that the bill is essential for providing regulatory clarity and long term stability for digital asset businesses operating in the United States. The industry invested heavily during the 2024 elections to back pro crypto candidates, hoping to secure passage of the measure. The House of Representatives passed its own version of the bill in July.
However, the bill faces resistance from Democrats, whose support is required for final passage. At least seven Democratic senators would need to back the proposal for it to advance to President Donald Trump for approval. Critics have raised concerns over the absence of safeguards to prevent political officials from profiting from crypto ventures. None of the Democrats on the Senate Agriculture Committee voted in favour of advancing the bill.
Senator Cory Booker, the committee’s top Democrat, said he was disappointed that provisions related to decentralized finance and political accountability were not included, despite ongoing discussions. He noted that while there is a potential bipartisan path forward, key issues remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, the White House is expected to meet with leaders from the banking and cryptocurrency sectors to explore a compromise on related legislation being considered by the Senate Banking Committee, which has yet to vote on its version of the bill.
