Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Predicts U.S. Crypto Market Bill Passage by Year-End

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expressed strong optimism that the long-awaited U.S. Crypto Market Structure Bill will pass before the end of 2025, despite the ongoing government shutdown reaching its thirty-third day. Speaking on Capitol Hill, Armstrong revealed that bipartisan discussions between Senate Democrats and Republicans are “90% complete,” signaling that the United States may soon achieve long-sought regulatory clarity for the crypto industry.

According to Armstrong, the remaining 10% of unresolved issues focus on how decentralized finance (DeFi) should be treated and how to protect stablecoin rewards for users. He emphasized that decentralized protocols and software should remain outside the reach of regulations meant for centralized exchanges, calling on lawmakers to safeguard innovation while creating clear rules for trading, custody, and stablecoin operations.

Armstrong also warned that major banks are attempting a “cash grab” to prevent crypto users from earning legitimate rewards, referencing the recently enacted Genius Act, which reinforced the legality of stablecoin incentives. He argued that traditional financial institutions should not be allowed to suppress progress or innovation within the blockchain ecosystem.

Despite Washington’s political gridlock, Armstrong expects the bill to advance through the Senate committee by Thanksgiving, setting up a potential full vote before year-end. This aligns with growing anticipation across the crypto market ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next meeting on October 29.

Reaffirming Coinbase’s position, the company’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, echoed on X that effective regulation should focus on centralized exchanges (CEXs) rather than decentralized protocols. “If you want to protect people, regulate CEXs like us. Not DeFi software or protocols. It’s not hard,” Grewal wrote.

Armstrong concluded by reiterating Coinbase’s commitment to advocating for fair and balanced crypto legislation that protects innovation while establishing a transparent regulatory framework.