US Senate lawmakers are pushing forward rival crypto market structure bills as two key committees prepare for markup hearings that could shape digital asset regulation for years.
The Senate Agriculture Committee plans to release its draft on 21 January ahead of a markup session scheduled for 27 January at 3:00 p.m.
The Agriculture Committee markup was originally set for 15 January but was delayed to allow further review and coordination.
Markup hearings will give senators the opportunity to debate provisions, propose amendments, and vote on whether the legislation should advance to the full Senate.
The Senate Banking Committee is also pressing ahead with its own markup hearing later this week using a separate draft proposal.
A preliminary version of the Banking Committee bill circulated late on Monday night, with lawmakers signalling that further revisions remain possible.
The parallel efforts highlight growing urgency in Congress to establish clearer rules for crypto markets amid ongoing regulatory uncertainty.
Supporters argue that a defined framework could provide consumer protection while giving the digital asset sector more predictable oversight.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman said the revised timetable improves transparency and allows lawmakers more time for scrutiny.
Boozman also credited bipartisan cooperation for keeping negotiations on track despite differing policy priorities.
I’m grateful to Senator Cory Booker, who continues to be a great partner, as well as to our staff for their hard work and dedication to create new rules to protect consumers while also supporting American innovation.
John Boozman said.
Senator Cory Booker has been involved in cross-party discussions aimed at narrowing gaps between the competing approaches.
Despite momentum, unresolved issues remain around how crypto governance should be structured within federal oversight.
Neither committee draft currently includes explicit provisions on ethics standards for regulators involved in supervising digital asset markets.
Observers have also noted the absence of clear quorum requirements, which could affect how regulatory decisions are made.
Policy analysts warn that these omissions may complicate efforts to secure broad bipartisan backing, particularly within the Banking Committee.
Lawmakers backing the bills acknowledge that negotiations are likely to intensify as markup hearings approach.
Industry groups are closely watching the process, seeing the outcome as critical for long-term investment and innovation in the US crypto sector.
Any final legislation will need to reconcile differences between the two committee versions before reaching a full Senate vote.