The Democratic Party is willing to return to the negotiating table, Senate Agriculture Committee's crypto legislation consultation now at a turning point

Jan. 27 — After a setback in crypto market legislation negotiations at the Senate Agriculture Committee, an aide to a Democratic senator said the party remains open to returning to the table to push for a bipartisan compromise. The aide noted Democratic members were caught off guard early this year when Republicans drafted a new bill without sufficient consultation and planned a mid-January markup. In response, Dems aim to reengage with committee chair Sen. John Boozman’s (R-Ark.) team this week ahead of the vote to build bipartisan consensus. The committee’s markup and vote on the crypto bill—originally set for Tuesday—was delayed to Thursday due to severe weather in Washington. Some Democratic lawmakers are also pushing to restart talks to reach a bipartisan-agreed text before the session. The legislation seeks to create a federal digital asset regulatory framework, including clarifying the SEC and CFTC’s oversight roles and disclosure requirements. Analysts emphasize bipartisan cooperation is critical for smooth progress, as both the Senate Banking and Agriculture committees must advance their respective versions of the bill.