Senate Agriculture Committee Unveils Draft Crypto Market Structure Bill Defining CFTC and SEC Roles

The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee has released its long-awaited draft of crypto market structure legislation, marking a crucial step toward clarifying how digital asset spot markets will be regulated. The proposal aims to define the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) authority while distinguishing its jurisdiction from that of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a long-debated issue in Washington’s effort to establish comprehensive crypto oversight.

Led by Chairman John Boozeman and Senator Cory Booker, the draft bill introduces definitions for “blockchain” and related terms under the Commodity Exchange Act. It mandates joint rulemaking between the CFTC and SEC on issues like margining and intermediary supervision. However, bracketed sections in the draft reveal unresolved details, including how the legislation aligns with existing laws and other Senate committees’ jurisdictions.

Despite progress, the legislation’s future remains uncertain. Senate staffers reportedly worked through the weekend to finalize the draft while the government faced a shutdown. The Agriculture Committee oversees the CFTC, while the Banking Committee, led by Senator Sherrod Brown, handles SEC-related matters. Both panels must advance their respective bills before a unified version can reach the Senate floor.

Industry groups such as the DeFi Education Fund have urged lawmakers to ensure the bill includes strong protections for decentralized finance (DeFi) developers. Meanwhile, political divisions persist — some Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, remain wary of crypto’s risks, while Republicans debate the bill’s readiness.

According to Wintermute’s Policy Head Ron Hammond, both committees may pass their versions by year’s end, but reconciling them and navigating political hurdles could delay a full Senate vote until early 2026. The draft represents a significant step toward establishing clear U.S. crypto market rules but highlights the complex road ahead for meaningful digital asset regulation.