The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, chaired by Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), has announced that it will hold a markup of the crypto market structure bill on January 27 at 3 p.m. ET, following the planned release of the legislative text on January 21. The markup session represents a key step in advancing federal legislation to clarify how digital asset markets in the United States are structured and regulated.
What the Markup Means
A markup session is when committee members review, debate and amend proposed legislative text before voting on whether to send the bill to the full Senate. In this case, the Agriculture Committee’s markup focuses on the version of the crypto market structure bill under its jurisdiction, which primarily covers commodities-related aspects of digital asset markets overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Chairman Boozman said the delay in scheduling the markup — originally set earlier in January — allows additional time to refine the bill’s provisions and build broader bipartisan support, particularly on contentious issues such as DeFi regulation and the treatment of stablecoin yields.
The Agriculture Committee’s review is one piece of a broader legislative process — a parallel markup by the Senate Banking Committee is expected to address overlapping issues related to securities-related digital assets overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Analysts say both committees must reconcile their versions before a final bill can move to the Senate floor.
Release of Legislative Text
Sen. Boozman has signaled that the legislative text for the crypto market structure bill will be released on January 21, six days before the markup session — giving senators and stakeholders time to review the details. The text is expected to cover regulatory clarity on digital asset market structure, jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and CFTC, and investor protections.
Industry supporters and trade groups have urged lawmakers to move quickly on the landmark legislation, arguing that clear rules are essential for U.S. competitiveness and investor confidence. A joint letter to Senate leadership from major crypto industry associations underscored strong support for advancing comprehensive market structure reform.
Why It Matters
The crypto market structure bill is one of the most closely watched pieces of digital asset legislation in Congress. Its goals include:
- Establishing clear regulatory authority for digital-asset trading venues and intermediaries, including exchanges and custodial services.
- Clarifying jurisdictional boundaries between the CFTC and SEC for spot and derivatives markets.
- Providing legal certainty for market participants in DeFi, stablecoins, derivatives, custody and other emerging sectors.
Lawmakers and industry analysts view the markup as a pivotal moment in 2026 legislative efforts, with the potential to shape U.S. crypto policy for years to come.
What Comes Next
- January 21: Legislative text release — the committee will publish and distribute the draft bill language prior to markup.
- January 27 (3 p.m. ET): Markup session in the Senate Agriculture Committee — senators will debate, amend and vote on the proposal.
- Post-Markup: If approved, the Agriculture Committee’s version would advance to the full Senate, where additional negotiations and amendments with the Senate Banking Committee’s version may occur.
Bottom line: With the crypto market structure bill markup set for January 27 at 3 p.m. ET and legislative text due on January 21, the Senate Agriculture Committee moves a major piece of U.S. digital asset policy closer to the threshold of floor consideration. How senators address key regulatory questions over DeFi, stablecoins and agency jurisdiction will be critical for the bill’s prospects and the future of federal crypto regulation.
