Catenaa, Tuesday, January 13, 2026 (Updated)- US senators late Monday released draft legislation to establish a federal framework for cryptocurrency markets, a news report by Reuters said.
The bill is also expected to place XRP, Solana and several other cryptocurrencies on similar legal footing to Bitcoin and Ethereum, potentially easing institutional access if enacted.
The proposed Clarity Act introduces a non-ancillary classification for tokens that were the principal assets of US-listed exchange-traded products as of January 1, 2026, excluding them from securities treatment and related SEC disclosure rules.
The provision would apply to XRP, Solana, Litecoin, Hedera, Dogecoin and Chainlink.
The bill seeks to clarify whether digital tokens fall under securities or commodities law and to define regulators’ authority over the sector.
The proposal would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversight of spot crypto markets, a long-standing goal of the industry, while preserving a role for the Securities and Exchange Commission in areas deemed securities-related.
Lawmakers say the bill is designed to provide legal certainty that could support broader adoption of digital assets in the US.
The draft also addresses stablecoins, responding to concerns raised by the banking industry over financial stability.
It would bar crypto companies from paying interest solely for holding a stablecoin, while allowing rewards tied to activities such as payments or loyalty programs. Banks have argued that interest-bearing stablecoins could draw deposits away from insured institutions, while crypto firms say limits on rewards would curb competition.
Under the bill, the SEC and CFTC would jointly issue rules requiring clearer disclosures on stablecoin-related rewards and incentives.
The Senate Banking Committee is expected to debate the proposal and consider amendments this week, while the Senate Agriculture Committee plans to advance its own version later this month.
The House passed a market structure bill in July, but talks stalled last year amid disputes over anti-money-laundering standards and decentralized finance requirements.
With Congress increasingly focused on the 2026 midterm elections, some industry observers question whether the legislation can advance this year. Failure to pass a law would leave crypto firms reliant on regulatory guidance that could shift under future administrations.
