Senator Moreno Calls Crypto Bill Talks Frustrating as Senate Races Toward Year-End Deadlines

Quick Breakdown

• Senator Bernie Moreno describes discussions on the crypto bill as “decently frustrating” amid the Senate’s year-end rush.
• Negotiations face partisan divides, with Democrats blocking progress on digital asset market structure.
• Bill aims to clarify crypto regulations but risks missing 2025 deadline without bipartisan deal.

 

According to Eleanor Terret, US Senator Bernie Moreno stated that talks on a comprehensive crypto bill remain “decently frustrating” as the Senate hurries toward year-end goals. 

The Ohio Republican highlighted ongoing partisan obstacles during a recent interview, noting Democrats’ reluctance to advance the legislation despite broad industry support. 

This market structure bill seeks to define rules for digital assets , separate them from securities, and boost US competitiveness against global rivals.​

🚨NEW: At @moonpay ’s New York
office today, Senator @MarkWarner told me that getting a crypto market structure markup done before Christmas break will be “very hard” because they are still waiting on White House language for two major pieces of the bill: ethics and quorum.

“At… pic.twitter.com/73QFxQQHY4

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) December 8, 2025

Negotiations hit a partisan wall

Moreno’s comments come as Senate leaders set ambitious closing targets for the session, yet crypto provisions lag. Sources indicate House-passed frameworks clash with Senate amendments, particularly on stablecoin oversight and CFTC jurisdiction. Industry groups like the Blockchain Association urge swift action to prevent regulatory uncertainty from stifling innovation. Without resolution, firms may shift operations overseas, echoing warnings from Coinbase and others.​

Broader implications for the crypto sector

The delay compounds pressures on digital asset firms navigating unclear rules under current SEC enforcement. Analysts point to recent bank entries, such as SoFi’s crypto trading launch, as evidence of shifting tides, yet legislative gridlock could reverse gains. Moreno emphasized the bill’s role in positioning America as the “crypto capital,” aligning with President Trump’s pro-innovation stance post-reelection. Passage would enable clearer paths for ETFs, custody, and DeFi protocols, per Capitol Hill trackers

Meanwhile, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed are demanding a federal probe into World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a crypto firm closely tied to the Trump family. They cite national security risks, alleging WLFI sold tokens to blockchain addresses linked to sanctioned North Korean and Russian entities. Concerns about financial conflicts of interest are also raised, as a Trump-linked entity controls 75% of the token sale revenue. While WLFI denies the claims and insists on strict compliance, the senators warn that the firm’s expansion and weak compliance could “supercharge illicit finance.”

 

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