The United States Senate Agriculture Committee has taken a significant step toward establishing a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets by passing the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act. The legislation, which is the committee’s portion of the broader crypto market structure bill, advances despite receiving only Republican support in a 12-11 party-line vote.
The bill focuses on granting the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulatory authority over digital commodities and represents a crucial component of the legislative effort to create comprehensive oversight for cryptocurrency markets in the United States. While passage through the committee marks important progress, several challenges remain before the legislation can become law.
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 The Senate Agriculture Committee approves its portion of the digital asset market structure bill, part of the Clarity Act, on a 12–11 party-line vote.
— Bitcoin.com News (@BitcoinNews) January 29, 2026
The measure now moves forward as lawmakers work toward final passage. 📜 pic.twitter.com/SQ7EpZDpX5
What’s in the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act
The Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act centers on establishing the CFTC’s authority to regulate digital commodities and the platforms where they trade. As the name suggests, the legislation primarily addresses intermediaries in the digital asset space, including exchanges, brokers, and dealers who facilitate crypto transactions.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Defining the CFTC’s jurisdiction over digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers
- Establishing consumer protection requirements for market participants
- Creating disclosure standards for digital commodities listed on exchanges
- Implementing safeguards for customer funds through qualified digital asset custodians
- Setting standards for trading practices and market surveillance
The legislation aims to provide regulatory clarity while still allowing for innovation in the cryptocurrency sector. It represents the Senate Agriculture Committee’s contribution to the broader crypto market structure legislative effort, which also includes a complementary bill from the Senate Banking Committee.
The Road Ahead
The bill now faces several hurdles before becoming law:
- Senate Banking Committee must pass its version (currently stalled over stablecoin yield provisions)
- Both Senate versions must be combined into a single floor bill
- Full Senate vote required
- Reconciliation with the House’s CLARITY Act, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support last July
- Presidential signature
The White House plans to host a meeting next week with crypto executives, banking representatives, and lawmakers to find common ground on outstanding issues.
Partisan Divisions and Regulatory Philosophy
The party-line vote in the Senate Agriculture Committee highlights the partisan divide on crypto regulation. Republicans generally favor what they see as the CFTC’s more innovation-friendly approach, while many Democrats have expressed concern about potential consumer protection gaps.
Senator Cynthia Lummis, a ranking member of the Banking Committee, expressed encouragement at seeing the crypto market structure bill pass the Agriculture Committee, stating, “We are one step closer to getting this legislation to President Trump’s desk.” She added that she looks forward to working with her colleagues to “make the U.S. the crypto capital.”
The partisan split may present challenges as the bill moves forward, especially with a closely divided Senate. However, the increasing regulatory clarity internationally and the growth of the digital asset industry have created momentum for some form of legislative framework.
Great to see digital asset market structure pass @SenateAgGOP. We are one step closer to getting this legislation to @POTUS’ desk, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with my colleagues across the aisle to make America the digital asset capital of the world.
— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) January 29, 2026
Industry Implications and Next Steps
The committee’s approval signals progress toward clearer U.S. crypto regulation. For years, the industry has pushed for defined rules instead of enforcement-driven oversight.
The bill outlines a registration framework for digital asset exchanges, brokers, and dealers under the CFTC. As a result, firms could gain regulatory clarity while consumers receive stronger protections.
However, a potential government shutdown could slow momentum, though reports suggest any shutdown may be brief. At the same time, the White House plans to meet with banking and crypto leaders over the bill’s stablecoin yield ban. Overall, passage of the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act marks a meaningful step toward a comprehensive U.S. crypto framework, even as legislative hurdles remain.
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