Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott scheduled the markup for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a move designed to end the SEC-CFTC turf war. Bitcoin held $90,000 on the news.
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has officially scheduled a markup session for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The move, announced late Friday by Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), sets the stage for the most significant overhaul of federal crypto regulations since the passage of the GENIUS stablecoin act last July.
Markets reacted cautiously to the timeline. Bitcoin (BTC) held steady at $90,600 (+0.2%), while volumes remained muted as institutional desks await the text of the manager’s amendment.
The End of ‘Regulation by Enforcement’?
The core mandate of the CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633) is to resolve the jurisdictional conflict between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Under the proposed framework, assets classified as “digital commodities”—specifically those on “mature,” decentralized blockchains—would fall under the exclusive oversight of the CFTC.
Senator Scott framed the legislation as an economic imperative rather than a mere compliance update.
“This legislation is about making America the crypto capital of the world, so the next generation of jobs and innovation is built here, not overseas,” Scott said in a statement confirming the session.
Sticking Points: DeFi and Yields
Despite the bipartisan push, negotiations remain tense on two fronts. Sources close to the committee indicate that provisions protecting DeFi developers from liability are a primary sticking point for Democratic members. Privacy advocates argue that code publication should be protected speech, while regulators seek to impose “controlling person” liability on protocol founders.
Additionally, the American Bankers Association (ABA) has lobbied against allowing non-bank stablecoin issuers to offer yield products, arguing it creates an arbitrage against regulated deposits. This follows the ABA’s formal letter to the Senate earlier this week warning of “shadow banking” risks.
Institutional Outlook
The vote comes as Wall Street deepens its integration with digital asset markets. A Goldman Sachs report released earlier this month projected that a clear market structure bill could unlock a “second wave” of institutional capital in Q1 2026. However, analysts at Galaxy Digital warn that without 60 votes in the Senate, the bill risks stalling before the midterm election cycle begins.
The committee will convene at 10:00 AM ET on January 15 to consider amendments.
