Senator John Boozman is weighing whether to postpone a January 15 markup of a major U.S. crypto bill as bipartisan negotiations with Democrats advance. The legislation would clarify which agencies oversee cryptocurrency markets and strengthen protections for investors. Depending on how talks progress, Boozman could either delay the vote to build broader support or proceed on the original schedule without full bipartisan backing.

On January 10, 2026, officials said they had fallback legal routes ready if the Supreme Court rejects President Trump's emergency tariff powers. Kevin Hassett cited planning to keep tariffs in place; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said collections would continue, while Kalshi put the odds at 31% and Treasury figures show $195 billion in FY2025 plus $62 billion so far in 2026.

The Nasdaq Stock Exchange and CME Group have combined their crypto benchmarks by renaming the Nasdaq Crypto Index to the Nasdaq-CME Crypto Index, which currently tracks major assets such as Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, Chainlink, Cardano and Avalanche. Executives and analysts expect crypto index benchmarks and exchange-traded products to gain traction as the digital asset market becomes more complex and investors increasingly seek passive, diversified exposure.

In the third quarter of last year, U.S. workers received 53.8% of GDP through wages and salaries, the lowest share since the BLS labor share series began in 1947. Over the same period, labor productivity registered its fastest increase in two years, while employers added 50,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate eased to 4.4% amid subdued hiring. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin highlighted that firms are leaning on productivity gains, keeping hiring modest even as GDP and corporate profits expand.

On 9 January 2026, US Senators intensified debate over the Responsible Financial Innovation Act (RFIA), a Republican-backed bill that would redefine federal oversight of digital assets. Democratic lawmakers are insisting on strict conflict-of-interest rules to stop public officials, including the president, from profiting from crypto ties, warning the bill could stall without such safeguards. The proposal, which passed the House as the CLARITY Act and may expand Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority, now faces added pressure from election politics and impending leadership changes.

On 9 January, the latest U.S. nonfarm payrolls report showed 50,000 jobs added and an unemployment rate near 4.4%, with average hourly earnings around 3.8% YoY. Despite the softer-than-expected labour figures, the total cryptocurrency market capitalisation remained broadly stable above $3 trillion, hovering near $3.07 trillion after a volatile fourth quarter. This muted price response points to a cautious, wait-and-see stance as investors focus more on future inflation data and Federal Reserve guidance than on single data releases.

On Jan. 15, 2026, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 will face a key Senate Banking Committee vote, with analyst Alex Thorn warning it is unlikely to return for a second vote in 2026 if it fails to advance. He said Republicans will need seven to 10 Democratic senators overall, and at least four Democrats on the committee, to move the CLARITY market structure bill forward and sustain its chances.

By January 9 2026, Bitcoin and Ethereum's year-to-date gains had cooled to about 4%, while several altcoins delivered much stronger weekly returns. XRP and Solana climbed nearly 10% and 7%, and coins like Sui, Bittensor, and Shiba Inu gained between 14% and 17%, reflecting a shift into higher-risk assets before key U.S. economic reports. Analysts also highlighted record 2025 stablecoin volumes and Morgan Stanley's new Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana ETF filings as important structural developments.