U.S. Crypto Market Structure Reform Pushed to Early 2026 as Political Priorities Dominate

On 16 December 2025, U.S. lawmakers effectively pushed comprehensive crypto market structure legislation into 2026 as election pressures, fiscal deadlines, and limited floor time take priority. The pending bill seeks to clarify federal oversight of digital assets, including how authority is shared between the SEC and CFTC, yet procedural steps such as hearings and markups remain incomplete. In the meantime, agencies continue to shape crypto regulation through guidance and enforcement, leaving the industry operating under evolving interpretations of existing law.