Benzinga·2026-01-14 17:45Core Viewpoint - The upcoming legislative vote is critical for the crypto industry, with only a 25% chance of bipartisan support to advance the bill, which could determine the regulatory landscape for crypto through 2027 [1][2]. Group 1: Legislative Scenarios - Scenario 1: Bipartisan Win (25% probability) - Requires all Republicans and two to four Democrats to support the bill, potentially advancing it to the Senate floor with momentum, similar to the stablecoin bill that received 68 votes [3]. - Scenario 2: Partisan Advance (50% probability) - Republicans may push the bill through committee alone, but it is likely to fail on the Senate floor without Democrat support, extending the timeline for regulatory clarity [4]. - Scenario 3: Failed Markup (25% probability) - The bill may not escape committee, delaying any legislation until after the 2026 midterms, pushing it into 2027 or beyond [4]. Group 2: Current Industry Challenges - The debate has shifted from defining securities versus commodities to a more complex "Christmas tree bill" with various amendments being proposed [5]. - Key sticking points include the regulation of DeFi, particularly the compliance requirements for non-custodial wallet developers, which are viewed as fundamentally unworkable [6]. - The potential for a bad bill could be more detrimental than no bill at all, as the industry is already achieving some regulatory relief under new SEC and CFTC leadership [6]. Group 3: Implications for Major Players - Coinbase and Robinhood both require regulatory clarity to enhance institutional adoption, but poorly defined regulations could jeopardize their crypto operations [8]. - Coinbase's CEO is actively lobbying for the bill, emphasizing the exchange's significant user base of over 100 million, while Robinhood is expanding its offerings to include crypto and prediction markets [7]. Group 4: Upcoming Legislative Actions - The text of the bill and proposed amendments will be made public shortly, with senators required to submit amendment proposals by a specific deadline [10]. - The Thursday hearing will reveal which amendments receive votes and whether any Democrats will cross party lines to support the bill [10]. Group 5: Broader Regulatory Concerns - The risk of codifying restrictive rules into federal law could have long-term implications, especially if future administrations are hostile to the crypto industry [6]. - Specific regulatory questions remain, such as whether DeFi developers will need to register with the SEC and comply with KYC/AML requirements, and how stablecoin issuers can manage interest earned on reserves [9].