US crypto regulation efforts resume this week after weather delays, with key legislative and regulatory events now scheduled for Thursday, January 29. The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a markup hearing on a digital commodities market structure bill. Meanwhile, the SEC and CFTC have rescheduled a joint harmonization meeting for the same afternoon.
US lawmakers and regulators will resume discussions on crypto market structure this Thursday after severe winter weather disrupted schedules. Both Congress and regulators have slated closely watched developments for January 29.
The US Senate Agriculture Committee confirmed it will hold a markup hearing at 10:30 a.m. ET. The meeting is to review and amend its latest draft of the Digital Commodity Intermediary Act.
A markup allows committee members to debate, amend, and vote on advancing a bill. While passage is not guaranteed, a successful markup would move the legislation closer to full Senate consideration.
Regulatory coordination is also on the agenda the same day. The US Securities and Exchange Commission said its harmonization event with the CFTC is rescheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday. The SEC did not provide agenda details, describing the session as focused on inter-agency coordination.
Their timing highlights parallel activity across legislative and regulatory branches. US authorities continue to grapple with crypto market structure following years of enforcement-led oversight and jurisdictional disputes.
Ahead of the markup, senators filed a slate of first-degree amendments. These proposals would expand the bill beyond its original aim of establishing a CFTC-led framework.
Several proposals from Sen. Michael Bennet would add a new “Digital Asset Ethics Act.” This would bar senior federal officials from issuing, endorsing, or holding digital assets, including indirect exposure through ETFs or derivatives.
Other amendments focus on consumer protection and systemic risk. Measures from Sen. Dick Durbin would prohibit federal agencies from providing emergency financial assistance to digital asset intermediaries.
National security provisions also feature prominently. Amendments from Sens. Jerry Moran and Tommy Tuberville would restrict platforms with ties to foreign adversary jurisdictions like China and Russia.
Some proposals seek to narrow regulatory reach. One Tuberville amendment would clarify that digital commodity brokers are subject to CFTC requirements only for activities tied to their registered functions.
