U.S. CLARITY Act: Senate Agriculture markup set for Jan. 27

The U.S. CLARITY Act is set to move towards a markup in the Senate Agriculture Committee on January 27th. The council also plans to release the bill’s text on January 21.

In an announcement on Tuesday, the committee, which oversees the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, confirmed the dates of the discussion, marking a crucial step toward advancing the already delayed legislation in the U.S.

The brief postponement from the original January 15th date comes as the senate committee tries garnering bipartisan support for the crypto market structure bill.

“This schedule ensures transparency and allows for thorough review as the committee moves forward with legislation to provide clarity and certainty for crypto markets,” said committee chairman John Boozman.

“I’m grateful to Senator Booker, who continues to be a great partner, as well as our staff for their hard work and dedication to create new rules to protect consumers while also supporting American innovation,” he added.

Senate Banking Committee to hold crypto market bill markup on Thursday

The Senate Banking Committee, which is the other arm of the Senate, is set to hold its markup hearing this Thursday for its version of the crypto market structure bill. 

Late on Monday night, a draft of the committee’s proposal was made available for lawmakers to review. 

Senators are expected to examine the draft prior to the hearing and suggest changes that could be discussed and added during the markup session. 

The committee can improve its strategy for regulating digital assets during the hearing, which is a crucial stage in the final bill’s development before the legislation is sent to the Senate for full consideration.

This becomes the vital period for developing the legislation that would give clarity and shape to the U.S. cryptocurrency market. The meeting may shape how regulations regarding digital assets develop in 2026 for the cryptocurrency community.

Crypto bill faces hurdles over stablecoins and deFi rules

The Crypto Market Structure Bill presents the SEC and CFTC as the principal regulators of the U.S. crypto market, seeking to create long-overdue clarity in the sector by filling the current regulatory voids.

Members of the industry have complimented the bill on creating a clear framework of regulation that encourages investors and businesses with confidence into the market.

However, the proposed legislation also poses significant challenges, with market participants waiting for clear direction on major points. The major hold-ups in the legislation include requirements for stablecoin yields as well as those related to decentralized finance platforms.

In compliance with the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, holding a stablecoin (such as USDC or USDT) in your wallet does not automatically earn you interest or passive income. Therefore, it is not permitted to deposit your stablecoins into an account and receive automatic interest.

However, there is a twist regarding earning rewards. The current direction states that as long as one uses stablecoins for participating in the system (such as by providing liquidity support or staking), there is nothing wrong with earning rewards. In other words, rewards are earned only by participating actively within the crypto network rather than just accumulating coins.

Lawmakers are engaged in efforts to address these concerns as the act is processed through various reviews.