The US government shutdown reached its 38th day as of Friday, with the Senate poised to vote on a House resolution intended to temporarily fund government operations. The outcome remains uncertain, particularly with the requirement of a 60-vote majority to pass the funding bill in a chamber that has seen numerous previous failures.

In the midst of this shutdown, Republican and Democratic legislators reportedly continue their negotiations over the digital asset market structure bill. This legislation, known as the CLARITY Act in the House and the Responsible Financial Innovation Act in the Senate, is designed to establish a comprehensive framework for crypto regulation in the United States.

Despite Congress members continuing to receive salaries during the shutdown—unlike numerous agencies where employees have either been laid off or forced to work without pay—efforts toward passing any legislation related to cryptocurrencies appear deprioritized in favor of focusing on the shutdown.

As of this publication, it remains unclear how much support Republican lawmakers have garnered from Democrats, who continue to push for the extension of healthcare subsidies and the reversal of cuts enacted in a previous funding measure.

Related: Senate Democrats demand answers on Trump’s pardon of Binance’s CZ

Will Republicans Meet Their Timeline for the Crypto Bill?

Cynthia Lummis, a prominent supporter of the market structure bill, stated in August that Republicans aimed to advance the legislation through the Senate Banking Committee by the close of September, through the Senate Agriculture Committee in October, and to have it signed into law by 2026. However, ongoing government shutdowns and the holidays may jeopardize this ambitious timeline.

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