The US Senate Banking Committee has just postponed crucial hearings on the regulation of crypto markets until 2026. This decision comes as the industry was impatiently awaiting clear rules to get out of the legal limbo. Why this new delay, and what consequences for the sector?
In brief
- The US Senate Banking Committee is postponing hearings on crypto legislation until early 2026, despite hopes of immediate progress.
- Chairman Tim Scott favors a bipartisan approach to establish clear rules of supervision between the SEC and the CFTC.
- The 2026 midterm elections risk further complicating the adoption of this expected reform.
American crypto reform delayed in the face of political blockages
The Senate Banking Committee formalized on Monday the postponement of legislative hearings on the structure of the crypto market. Initially hoped for this week, these crucial discussions are now scheduled for early 2026. The chairman of the commission, Tim Scott, confirmed this decision through his spokesperson.
This legislation represents a major challenge for the American crypto industry. It must precisely define how the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) will share market supervision.
The draft designates the CFTC as the main regulator of spot markets, a clarification awaited for years by sector players.
President Scott justifies this delay by his desire to obtain a solid bipartisan consensus. “He engaged with consistency and patience in discussions in good faith,” said his spokesperson.
The stated objective remains ambitious: to make the United States “the world capital of cryptocurrencies”. However, this political caution comes at a price. Paul Barron, a renowned crypto investor and analyst, was critical:
The market structure bill failed in the Senate review phase.
According to him, even an adoption in early 2026 remains uncertain. This frustration reflects that of many players who hoped to turn the page on regulatory uncertainty by 2025.
Piling up political and economic obstacles
The political calendar seriously complicates the situation. In 2026, the United States will hold midterm elections where all seats in the House of Representatives and 33 seats in the Senate will be renewed.
Historically, these election periods often cripple the passage of bipartisan legislation. Parliamentarians prefer to avoid controversial subjects likely to cost them votes.
Added to this is a problem of priorities. Starting in January, Congress will have to urgently address funding for the federal government. The finance law expires on January 30, which automatically relegates “non-essential” files to the background. Crypto risks paying the price.
The market immediately sanctioned this announcement. Monday evening, the total capitalization of the sector fell by 150 billion dollars in a few hours. Bitcoin fell from almost $90,000 to around $85,000, losing $5,000 in the process. This fall of 3.6% reflects the nervousness of investors in the face of a legal framework which is slow to materialize.
This postponement could ultimately prove counterproductive. As the administration seeks to position the United States as a global leader in crypto, continued regulatory uncertainty risks pushing players toward clearer jurisdictions. Time is now against Washington.
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