Time is ticking in Washington. What is currently happening in the US Senate could be decisive for the entire crypto industry, and honestly: the next few weeks are critical.

A bipartisan meeting is upcoming, and this is no coincidence. It takes place before the Senate Banking Committee moves into the crucial phase — the markup process, where draft bills are turned into actual legislation with amendments. Committee Chair Tim Scott makes it clear: this is serious.

The questions being debated here are not trivial. What is a spot product, what is a derivative? When is a token treated like a security? Who is a broker, who is a custodian? These definitions will later determine licensing, listings, and ultimately whether large institutional investors see the market as investable at all. The CLARITY Act is at the center of this discussion.

The interesting part: Scott signals urgency. In early December, he already warned of delays, and now he’s following up. If negotiations drag into early 2026, he could proceed without broad bipartisan support. This is not really a threat, but rather a hint at the tools available to a Committee Chair. A markup can also proceed with a narrow majority — but it will be more difficult later in the full chamber.

For the industry, the message is clear: January is the deadline. Either there is a concrete regulatory roadmap for 2026, or we’ll push this back again. The coming days could show whether the parties reach an agreement or if Scott starts the markup process without broad consensus. It’s going to be exciting.