U.S. lawmakers are moving crypto regulation back to the top of the legislative agenda, with market structure and stablecoin policy set for renewed action in January 2026. After months of stalled negotiations, both chambers of Congress are preparing hearings and procedural steps that could shape how digital assets are regulated in the United States.

The focus now shifts to committee calendars, where early January dates signal the first concrete push of the new year. Lawmakers and industry observers see this window as a test of whether bipartisan momentum can translate into binding rules for crypto markets.

Market structure bill heads toward Senate action

Attention centers on the Senate Banking Committee, which is preparing to advance a market structure proposal that aims to clarify regulatory authority over digital assets. The bill seeks to define when a token falls under securities law and when it qualifies as a commodity, effectively drawing clearer lines between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Committee leaders have indicated that January will bring formal consideration of the text, including a markup process where senators debate amendments and vote on final language. That step matters because it determines whether the bill can move to the Senate floor later in the session.

Meanwhile, the House has already passed its own version of market structure legislation. As a result, January discussions are expected to focus on aligning Senate language with the House framework, setting up negotiations that could eventually lead to a unified bill.

Stablecoin oversight shifts toward implementation

Stablecoins form the second pillar of the January agenda, although the legislative posture differs from market structure. Congress approved a stablecoin framework last year, establishing rules for dollar-backed tokens, reserve requirements, and issuer oversight.

As 2026 begins, the emphasis turns to how regulators will apply those rules in practice. Federal agencies are expected to outline supervision standards, licensing pathways, and compliance timelines for issuers operating under the new law.

Lawmakers plan to use January hearings to review early implementation and address gaps that surfaced after passage. These sessions could also influence future amendments, especially around the role of banks, payment firms, and nonbank issuers in the stablecoin ecosystem.

Why January matters for crypto policy

January serves as a critical inflection point because committee action sets the pace for the rest of the year. Hearings and markups do not guarantee passage, but they signal political commitment and establish negotiating positions.

For the crypto industry, this phase offers clearer signals than broad policy speeches or draft proposals. Concrete dates and committee votes show whether Washington is ready to move from debate to enforcement-ready rules.

As lawmakers return from the holiday recess, crypto regulation once again sits on the congressional calendar. The outcome of January’s sessions will shape how quickly the United States moves toward a more defined digital asset framework in 2026.