Crypto Market Structure Bill Hits Pause: Senate Prioritizes Trump's Housing Crackdown Over CLARITY Act Ahead of Midterms

The Senate has delayed voting on major cryptocurrency regulations, like the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, to address housing affordability, which President Trump sees as a priority.

With elections coming up and housing costs a big worry for voters, the administration wants quick action, including possibly limiting investors from buying single-family homes. This means the crypto bill is pushed back to late February or March 2026.

This delay follows issues with passing the Clarity Act, which tries to clarify how the SEC and CFTC regulate digital assets. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stopped supporting it in January, saying it could cause worse confusion than what exists now. Focusing on housing shows the political strategy and what voters care about, putting aside a step that the crypto industry thought was important for regulatory clarity.

Even although the Senate Agriculture Committee still plans to discuss its CFTC-related parts on January 27, 2026, merging the two committees' versions is still in process. People in the crypto industry have mixed feelings about the delay. They see it as a chance to get more feedback and make the law better, but it also shows the conflicting demands on Capitol Hill, where housing is now more important than crypto regulation as elections get closer.