Crypto Rules: What's Holding Up the Big Vote?

Lawmakers are still figuring out how to regulate cryptocurrency. They wanted to have a big vote on it this year, but it looks like they won't make it in time. Now, they're aiming for early 2026, but there are some big hurdles to overcome. First, there are some key disagreements. One big issue is how to handle decentralized finance, or DeFi. Some lawmakers want to regulate it, while others want to leave it alone. Another issue is how to treat stablecoin yield, which is the interest you can earn from certain cryptocurrencies. There's also the question of who will be in charge of regulating cryptocurrency, and whether President Trump will agree to any ethics agreements.The Senate Banking Committee had hoped to have a hearing on the matter by the end of last week, but they didn't make it happen. Chairman Tim Scott said they're still working on it and will try again in 2026. But with the government shutdown and other issues, it's going to be tough to get everything sorted out in time. Some people think it's better that they didn't have the hearing this year. If they had, it might have been too partisan and not gotten enough support. But others think that if they don't act soon, the bill might not pass at all. There's still a chance that the bill could pass in 2026, but it's going to be a tough road. Congress has a lot on its plate, and they'll need to work quickly to get it done. And with the election coming up, it's anyone's guess what will happen.