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#CLARITYBillDelayed: US Crypto Regulation Hits Roadblock – Senate Pauses Landmark CLARITY Act! ⚠️📉
Breaking as of January 21, 2026 (early PKT): The much-hyped Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act just got delayed in the US Senate. The Senate Banking Committee canceled its scheduled January 15 markup session — no new date announced yet. This is a major setback for the industry's push for clear federal rules on digital assets.
What is the CLARITY Act?
Passed by the House in mid-2025 (building on FIT21), it aims to split oversight: CFTC for "digital commodities" spot markets, SEC for investment contracts/securities-like tokens. It covers stablecoins, DeFi, secondary trading exemptions, mature blockchain certifications, and more — promising the "regulatory clarity" crypto has begged for years to attract institutions and end enforcement-by-surprise.
Why the Delay?
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong's Bombshell: Hours before the markup, Armstrong posted on X that the revised Senate draft had "too many issues" — Coinbase couldn't support it. Key gripe: Language banning crypto firms from paying interest/yields on stablecoins (protecting banks?), while allowing "rewards." This hits platforms like Coinbase hard (USDC rewards are big revenue).
Contentious Amendments: Over 100 proposed changes created chaos — too risky for a vote without failure.
Industry Backlash: Some call it "regulatory capture" favoring banks over crypto innovation. Even with bipartisan hopes post-2025 highs, divisions (crypto vs. banks, SEC power concerns) killed momentum.
Market Impact So Far:
This uncertainty adds fuel to the current dip — BTC hovering ~$88K–$89K, alts bleeding. No bill = continued SEC/CFTC gray zone, slowing institutional inflows. But bulls see it as healthy: Better no bad bill than rushed regs enabling "next FTX." Midterms loom in Nov 2026 — delay risks the bill dying or dragging into next Congress.
What's Next?
Renegotiate: Senators (Tim Scott, others) vow revival — fix stablecoin yields, balance SEC/CFTC roles.
Possible: Markup rescheduled late Jan or later. Or chronic stall.
Tail risk: Terminal delay in 2026, forcing more enforcement over legislation.