Talks on the United States’ long-awaited crypto market structure bill have entered another tense stretch, with Sen. Bernie Moreno saying negotiations have become “decently frustrating” as lawmakers struggle to align on the next major step for digital-asset regulation.

Speaking Monday at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., Moreno said he does not want Congress to advance a weak bill simply to show progress, adding that “no deal is better than a bad deal.”

He is scheduled to meet with Democrats on Tuesday to determine whether the two sides can break the recent deadlock.

Progress Slows on Crypto Oversight Bill Despite Earlier Bipartisan Momentum

Earlier this year, Lawmakers to pass a stablecoin law marking a rare moment of bipartisan agreement.

However, the broader market structure bill, intended to decide which federal agency has jurisdiction over different types of crypto assets and how consumer protections should be applied, has been difficult to finalize.

Both the House and Senate have their own versions, and lawmakers will need to resolve these differences before the bill can move toward.

The House passed its version, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, in July. The bill gives the Commodity Futures Trading Commission primary authority over digital commodities and preserves the Securities and Exchange Commission’s power over fundraising and token issuances.

GENIUS Act, Anti-CBDC Act, and CLARITY Act pass crucial procedural vote 215-211 in Congress after Trump's decisive Oval Office intervention rescues stalled crypto agenda.#GeniusAct #Trumphttps://t.co/Lm2tCBbimp

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) July 16, 2025

The Senate Banking Committee, where Moreno sits, has its own draft that introduces the term “ancillary assets” in an effort to define which tokens should not be treated as securities.

That committee must also coordinate with the Senate Agriculture Committee, which released a separate draft last month expanding CFTC authority. Both proposals would still require markup hearings, revisions, and a formal vote before advancing.

There was brief optimism last week when Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott told attendees at a “Crypto Christmas” event that there was a realistic path to hold a markup hearing on December 17 or 18.

But other members are less confident. Sen. Mark Warner said on Monday that completing a markup before the holidays would be difficult, in part because lawmakers are still waiting for the White House’s language on quorum and ethics provisions.

Industry lawyers have also raised concerns about unresolved issues in the bill, including how stablecoin yield products should be treated and how decentralized finance should be regulated.

Congress Faces Tightening Window as Political Friction Slows U.S. Crypto Rulemaking Efforts

Political complications continue to cloud the process. Several Democrats have voiced concerns about President Donald Trump’s financial ties to crypto ventures, which Bloomberg estimated at $620 million in July.

Democratic lawmakers have launched a new probe into former President Donald Trump’s growing involvement in the crypto industry.#Crypto #Regulationhttps://t.co/Wli5QqlNdu

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) May 15, 2025

His family’s involvement in a stablecoin project and a mining firm has fueled questions about potential conflicts of interest. The debate has added another layer of tension as Congress attempts to write rules that would shape the industry for years.

The negotiations are unfolding at a time when the U.S. is trying to put a more permanent structure around the digital-asset market.

Earlier this year, the GENIUS Act became law, marking the country’s first attempt at a federal framework for stablecoins. The law requires stablecoin issuers to hold full reserves, undergo monthly audits, and follow strict anti-money-laundering rules.

A key point in the legislation is the clarification that stablecoins are not to be treated as securities. With that clarification in place, agencies now have until July 2026 to finish writing the rules that will put the law into practice.

@RepBryanSteil presses regulators to speed up GENIUS Act rulemaking before the July 2026 deadline amid concerns over potential delays#GENIUSAct #CryptoRegulationhttps://t.co/KF4aPx4der

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 3, 2025

Officials from the FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, and NCUA told members of Congress last week that they have already begun the work and expect to roll out the new rules in two phases starting next year.

Even with that, lawmakers say time is running short. Sen. Thom Tillis warned that Congress has only a small window to move forward. He said that if discussions continue into February, the election season could bring everything to a stop.

The post Sen. Moreno Warns “No Deal is Better Than a Bad Deal” as Crypto Bill Talks Stall appeared first on Cryptonews.

On Sunday, XRP staged a bounce to the $2.1 price level, flipping the market into a bullish atmosphere. However, on-chain metrics are flashing conflicting signals as the market splits between bullish and bearish narratives due to a disparity in investors’ actions on major exchanges.

A Two-Sided XRP Market Mood Emerges

XRP, a leading altcoin, has sent one of its most perplexing signals in recent months, leaving traders unsure about what to expect next in the market or price. Arthur, a market expert and official partner of the BingX crypto exchange, has outlined a distinct behavior among investors in two regions.

According to the market expert, the altcoin is exhibiting a mixed signal right now after examining the activity of investors on the Binance and Bithumb exchanges. Currently, investors on the Binance exchange are demonstrating bullish activity while those on Bithumb are displaying signs of weakening sentiment and uncertainty.

On the Binance side, Arthur noted that the supply of XRP on the exchange is experiencing a steady decline. This persistent withdrawal from the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world is mostly carried out by large investors known as whale holders, which is causing a tightening supply.

Such a pattern extends beyond simple reshuffling from these key investors. Furthermore, it points to a strategic move by wealthy investors, who usually take action ahead of more general market trends. Historically, the movement of these high-value wallets’ assets away from centralized exchanges is a sign that the cohort could be getting ready for an impending market catalyst.

Meanwhile, on Upbit and Bithumb, the expert reported that there is a steady flow of XRP into the two largest crypto exchanges in South Korea. When coins flow into exchanges, it usually points to short-term selling pressure, suggesting that investors in the Asian region are currently locking in profits.

Heightened Demand For The Altcoin Via ETFs

Demand for XRP is still waxing strong in certain key areas, especially the Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Following weeks of market turbulence, institutional appetite for the altcoin appears to have increased, creating a strong new tailwind.

In another X post, Arthur reported that the altcoin has experienced steady inflows over the last 15 days, signifying the longest continuous run since funds tracking the token started trading. Within this timeframe, the expert highlighted that the funds have recorded a whopping $900 million Asset Under Management (AUM). 

Despite modest price movement, this consistent flow of funds indicates that big investors are discreetly increasing exposure, indicating growing confidence in XRP’s long-term prospects. With the Clarity Act set to gain approval, the expert is confident that the development could attract more inflows into the funds. It may also see retail investors, institutional investors, and ETFs moving in a single direction.

The anticipated crypto market structure bill, or namely the CLARITY Act, designed to provide essential regulatory clarity for digital assets in the United States, is approaching critical dates in the Senate. However, it faces significant complexities related to stablecoin yield, conflicts of interest, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Senate Divided On Crypto Market Structure Bill

Legal expert and Chief Legal Officer of Variant Jake Chervinsky, reports that the Senate is divided into two committees: Banking, which is handling the securities law aspect, and Agriculture, responsible for the commodities law portion. 

Both committees have published drafts of their work this fall, with the next step being markup, a process where hearings will be held to vote on amendments before sending the bill to the Senate floor for a full vote.

However, both committees are cautious and are unlikely to proceed with markup until they resolve ongoing disputes. Among these, three significant issues stand out.

The first major concern involves stablecoin yield. In the GENIUS Act, banks lobbied for a prohibition on interest payments, meaning stablecoin issuers cannot offer holders any form of interest or yield. 

While the current prohibition prevents direct yield payments to holders, it does not address non-yield rewards or yield provided by third parties. Banks consider this gap a “loophole” and are advocating for broader restrictions to be included in the market structure bill. 

Conflicts Of Interest And DeFi Regulations Stall Progress

The second issue revolves around conflicts of interest. Some Democratic senators have indicated they would not support the market structure legislation unless it includes provisions that restrict the President’s family from conducting business in the crypto space. 

The third and perhaps most crucial issue pertains to DeFi. It is important to note that market structure legislation primarily addresses centralized platforms that exercise custody over user funds and transactions. 

Chervinsky believes the bill should primarily focus on protecting DeFi, but traditional finance (TradFi) stakeholders have been pushing Congress to categorize virtually all entities in the crypto sector—developers, validators, and others—as intermediaries. 

The expert emphasized that the success of any market structure bill hinges on ensuring robust protections for developers since the viability of the crypto industry relies on their contributions. 

Given the intricate nature of these issues and the swiftly approaching holiday break, Chervinsky noted that it is possible that discussions about market structure could extend into January. 

Senate Markup Set For December 17-18

Market analyst MartyParty provided another update on December 4, indicating that the bipartisan Digital Asset Market Structure Bill is gaining significant momentum in Congress, with a markup session in the Senate Banking Committee tentatively scheduled for December 17-18, just before the holiday recess

If successfully passed, he states that the bill could establish clearer pathways for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and mitigate “debanking” risks, paving the way for compliant exchanges and potentially stimulating market volumes following the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approvals for spot crypto trading. 

This “regulatory convergence” is seen as a catalyst that could drive liquidity and energize the next bull market, reinforcing President Trump’s vision for the US to emerge as the “crypto capital of the world.”

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto pundit Rob Cunningham has outlined a scenario where Ripple could achieve a $7 trillion valuation based on the XRP price. The crypto firm is notably the largest XRP holder, which is why a significant surge in the altcoin’s price could increase the company’s valuation. 

Ripple Could Hit A $7 Trillion Valuation With An XRP Price Of $250

In an X post, Cunningham predicted that Ripple could hit a $7 trillion valuation if the XRP price were to rally to $250.  Specifically, the pundit outlined a scenario where the company’s XRP position could account for $4.25 trillion of its valuation. He claimed that Ripple owned 17 billion XRP, which would amount to $4.25 trillion at $250 per XRP, the projected price. 

Cunningham noted that this trillion-dollar valuation for Ripple, based on an XRP price surge to $250, would make the company 6.6x times more valuable than Visa and 8.6x times more valuable than Mastercard. $4.25 trillion also represents 3.6% of the world’s GDP, which stands at $117 trillion. 

Based on an XRP price of $250, the pundit noted that the total XRP market value would be $15 trillion. Ripple’s 17 billion XRP holdings represent 28% of the circulating supply. Meanwhile, Cunningham listed other factors that could drive the firm to a $7 trillion valuation, including the passage of the CLARITY Act. 

Other Factors That Would Contribute To A $7 Trillion Valuation

In addition to the XRP price surge to $250 and the CLARITY Act, Cunningham listed the Treasury’s approval of Ripple’s business as another factor. The pundit explained that the Treasury approval would mean that XRP and XRP Ledger (XRPL) would get global regulatory clarity as a core infrastructure layer for the new monetary system. 

He also outlined a scenario where RLUSD and XRP become the default U.S. dollar rails globally, which would also contribute to Ripple’s projected $7 trillion valuation. The pundit noted that RLUSD already has a $1 billion market cap with $95 billion in payment volume and is growing. Cunningham also indicated that the XRP price could easily rally to $250, as this scenario positions XRP for a global settlement role rather than just another crypto asset. 

The pundit also gave a “conservative” equity value of $1.3 trillion to $2.7 trillion for the payment firm. He noted that markets could apply a 60% to 80% discount to the $4.25 valuation, given an XRP price surge to $250 due to the high concentration in a single asset. 

Cunningham also alluded to the political risk, as if Ripple’s payment system becomes the default settlement rail, governments may want a say in their operations. He also outlined possible capital controls, windfall taxes, or forced restructurings as other factors that could reduce Ripple’s projected $7 trillion valuation.

Bitcoin Magazine

Crypto Market Structure Bill Gains Bipartisan Momentum as Coinbase’s Armstrong Says “We’re 90% There”

Even as Washington remains hobbled by a partial government shutdown, momentum for U.S. crypto market structure legislation is quietly reaching new heights.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says the industry is “90%” of the way there, describing unprecedented bipartisan cooperation among senators working to finalize the long-awaited regulatory framework for digital assets.

Armstrong, who spent this week meeting with both Senate Democrats and Republicans, said the last few sticking points of the CLARITY Act — including rules for decentralized finance (DeFi) and stablecoin rewards — are close to being resolved. 

“Both sides are working hard to figure out the final 10%, and we’re getting close,” he said in a social media post. “We’re bullish on getting a bill passed by year-end, and hopeful it’s out of Committee by Thanksgiving.”

The Coinbase chief’s optimism comes amid a surge of engagement between lawmakers and crypto executives, marking one of the most serious bipartisan pushes to bring clarity to digital asset regulation since Congress first began debating the issue years ago.

JUST IN: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says, “There is strong bipartisan support to get this market structure legislation done.” pic.twitter.com/Z8PI1OXDJc

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 23, 2025

Bipartisan crypto breakthrough in July

The legislation at the center of these discussions — the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) — passed the House of Representatives in July with a strong bipartisan majority of 294–137. 

The bill now sits before the Senate Banking Committee, chaired by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), with hopes it could advance to the Senate floor before the end of the year.

In a CNBC interview on Wednesday, Armstrong described “very productive” meetings with senators from both parties, calling the level of collaboration a positive sign for the U.S. crypto industry.

According to multiple people familiar with the meetings, senior lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) attended or participated in discussions with Armstrong and other crypto leaders such as Kraken co-CEO David Ripley, Uniswap Labs founder Hayden Adams, and Chainlink Labs’ Sergey Nazarov.

The CLARITY Act seeks to end years of regulatory ambiguity by clearly distinguishing which digital assets qualify as securities under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and which fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Under the bill’s framework, sufficiently decentralized networks would fall under CFTC oversight, while tokens with more centralized control or that function as investment contracts would remain under SEC jurisdiction.

The legislation also introduces clearer rules for decentralized finance, secondary trading markets, and custody services — areas where the lack of uniform federal guidance has long frustrated both innovators and investors.

DeFi and stablecoin legislation

Still, the final 10% of negotiations may prove the toughest. One of the key unresolved questions is how to regulate decentralized finance platforms. 

Armstrong has urged lawmakers to focus oversight on decentralized intermediaries — such as interfaces or aggregators — rather than attempting to regulate open-source protocols themselves.

Another area of tension involves stablecoin rewards, which Armstrong says the banking lobby is working to eliminate. Coinbase and other industry advocates argue that consumers should be able to earn yield on regulated stablecoin holdings, similar to how traditional savings accounts pay interest.

These debates underscore the competing visions within Congress: Democrats remain focused on preventing illicit finance and ensuring consumer protection, while Republicans emphasize innovation and competitiveness.

Despite the bipartisan goodwill, the timing remains precarious. The ongoing government shutdown has slowed committee work and pushed back the formal markup of the bill. Some lawmakers, including Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), have expressed skepticism that the committee is ready to move forward, citing unanswered questions about regulatory authority and industry influence.

Still, supporters say the momentum is undeniable. Sen. Lummis, who has long championed digital asset legislation, recently told attendees at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium that she expects the market structure bill to reach the president’s desk “before the end of the year — hopefully before Thanksgiving.”

This post Crypto Market Structure Bill Gains Bipartisan Momentum as Coinbase’s Armstrong Says “We’re 90% There” first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Save Our Wallets: Bitcoiners Must Act To Defend Their Right To Transact

Recent threats against the rights of bitcoiners to transact in the manner they deem fit led to the creation of Save Our Wallets. Done in collaboration with the Bitcoin Policy Institute, CoinCenter, the Bitcoin Design Foundation, and many regional Bitcoin hubs around the United States, the organization recently launched the “Satoshi Needs You!” campaign.

Satoshi needs all of you to rally together to ensure that the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA) provisions are included in the coming version of the CLARITY Act, to ensure that self-custodial software tools in the Bitcoin ecosystem remain a protected thing, unencumbered by financial regulations designed to restrict businesses actually taking control of users’ funds.

The trials this summer prosecuted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the developers of Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash have set dangerous precedents by prosecuting developers of open-source and self-custodial software, which at no time gave developers control over user funds in any way, and flies directly against standing guidance from both the DOJ as well as FinCEN, the regulator in charge of the application of the relevant regulations from both cases.

The “Satoshi Needs You!” campaign aims to raise awareness of the current threats to bitcoiners’ rights and rally people to get involved in the push to cement these rights in explicit regulation.

“This is a moment of both great danger and great opportunity for the bitcoin network” said Kyle Olney, co-founder of SaveOurWallets.org. “We can’t take anything for granted until our fundamental rights to economic liberty in the digital realm have been codified into law. We need EVERY bitcoiner to get involved, contact their representatives in Washington DC, and ensure this congress continues to execute on pro-Bitcoin policy. We have a responsibility to fight for our freedoms like the right to transact, and to pass those rights on for future generations.”

Visit SaveOurWallets.org to learn more about the CLARITY Act and how you can get involved in the fight to include the BRCA provisions.

This post Save Our Wallets: Bitcoiners Must Act To Defend Their Right To Transact first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Shinobi.