Election Year Politics Threaten Bipartisan Crypto Bill Push

The Senate’s long-awaited crypto market structure bill is hitting another critical juncture as midterm election pressures begin to overshadow bipartisan negotiations.

According to Politico, Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott now faces mounting challenges to pass the landmark legislation after pushing a committee vote into 2026, with lawmakers warning that Congress’s traditional election-year gridlock could derail the effort entirely.

The bill aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets and to determine which federal agencies oversee different crypto sectors.

Its passage hinges on Republicans reaching an agreement with Senate Democrats on several sticking points, including ethics concerns surrounding President Donald Trump’s family’s crypto ventures, which could become campaign flashpoints.

Republicans hope to deliver what would be a signature legislative achievement of Trump’s second term.

Campaign Cash Complicates Political Calculus

The crypto and banking industries are preparing massive campaign spending pushes that could scramble the political dynamics as elections approach.

Politico asserts that the crypto sector has already poured over $140 million into the Fairshake super PAC network, backing industry-friendly candidates across both parties.

In a significant development this week, major U.S. banks launched the American Growth Alliance, a nonprofit that will deploy “tens of millions of dollars” to advance their interests in the crypto debate, particularly around restricting yield programs on stablecoins.

These competing financial incentives create complicated pressures for Democrats, especially.

While passing legislation could keep them in crypto firms’ good graces, failing to reach a deal might actually incentivize continued industry support since bipartisan backing would be needed for future legislative efforts.

Senator Cynthia Lummis noted that the industry’s willingness to contribute to both parties creates “a powerful incentive for politicians to pussyfoot around.“

The crypto industry’s political advocacy group, Stand With Crypto, escalated the pressure this week, announcing it will score lawmakers based on how they vote during market structure markups and warning that “failure to pass Market Structure jeopardizes everything that this community has built and fought for.“

Window for Action Rapidly Closing

Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) warned that lawmakers have until roughly March to finalize the bill, after which “we’re in the political silly season.“

The compressed timeline comes as bipartisan negotiations stretch deeper into an election year marked by heightened political tensions.

Scott said this week that lawmakers are “making steady, bipartisan progress” while working through the text “in a thoughtful, deliberate way,” emphasizing his focus on “building a durable framework that provides regulatory clarity, protects investors, and keeps America at the forefront of financial innovation.“

Democrats say they’re focused on substance rather than political considerations.

Senator Ruben Gallego also emphasized the urgency of action following an October meeting with crypto executives, warning that failure to pass legislation could push crypto industries overseas or into illicit markets.

Negotiations Continue Amid Multiple Pressure Points

The Senate effort follows months of stalled progress after the record-breaking government shutdown and disagreements over decentralized finance regulation.

While the House passed its Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in July with bipartisan support, giving the CFTC primary oversight of digital commodities, the Senate has been developing its own framework, using different terminology, such as “ancillary assets,” to define non-security tokens.

Scott must also navigate concerns from some GOP members, with Senator John Kennedy defending the delayed markup as “inevitable” while praising the chairman for creating “a sense of urgency” amid productive negotiations.

Recent developments have intensified the legislative urgency beyond campaign finance considerations.

The pro-crypto advocacy group Stand With Crypto warned that inaction would jeopardize years of industry development.

Meanwhile, opposition emerged this week from the American Federation of Teachers, which warned the legislation could expose public-sector pensions to unsafe assets by allowing companies to tokenize stock and bypass traditional securities oversight.

AFT President Randi Weingarten said the bill “poses profound risks to the pensions of working families,” arguing it would replace existing safeguards with a framework that leaves retirement plans more vulnerable than they are today.

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