New York, Jan 13, 2026, 14:53 EST — Market open.
- Coinbase shares climb alongside bitcoin after U.S. senators unveil a draft bill targeting crypto market structure
- The proposal aims to transfer greater oversight to the CFTC and introduces fresh guardrails on stablecoin rewards
- Traders are zeroing in on Thursday’s Senate Banking debate, watching closely for any last-minute tweaks to the text
Shares of Coinbase Global gained Tuesday, buoyed by a rise in bitcoin and the release of a much-anticipated draft bill from U.S. lawmakers targeting clearer regulations for crypto markets. Coinbase climbed roughly 3.6%, reaching $251.70 in afternoon trading.
The draft legislation, unveiled late Monday, would clarify when crypto tokens qualify as securities or commodities and boost the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) clout over spot crypto trading, where tokens are exchanged immediately. It also clamps down on “stablecoins,” digital tokens usually tied to the U.S. dollar, by banning firms from paying interest just for holding them while still permitting certain activity-based rewards. “What is threatening progress is not a lack of policymaker engagement, but the relentless pressure campaign by the Big Banks,” said Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, a crypto trade group. (Reuters)
Why it matters now: Coinbase earns revenue from customer trades and benefits when regulatory clarity encourages big investors to commit. The industry has long pushed for a market-structure law, hoping it will clear up the legal uncertainties that pit regulators, exchanges, and token issuers against each other in court.
Coinbase is pushing lawmakers to shield “rewards” linked to stablecoins, Bloomberg News reports, and it may withdraw support for the bill if the rules extend past disclosure mandates. The Senate Banking Committee plans to review the draft this week. (Bloomberg Law)
Crypto-related stocks tracked broader market moves. Strategy climbed around 5.4%, Marathon Digital edged up about 1.6%, and Riot Platforms dipped roughly 0.9%. Robinhood, which has broadened its crypto options alongside stocks and options, added about 1.2%.
Analyst updates showed some divergence. Owen Lau at Oppenheimer maintained his “Outperform” call on Coinbase but shaved his price target to $370 from $381 in a Monday note, per GuruFocus. (GuruFocus)
Coinbase usually moves like a leveraged play on crypto prices and trading volume. When bitcoin strengthens, the stock often rises; when volatility fades, it tends to slip. Regulatory news, however, can overshadow both, at least for a day.
The bill isn’t law yet, and the political landscape remains tangled. Banks and credit unions argue that rewards on dollar-linked tokens might siphon deposits away from the traditional system. Crypto companies counter that a strict ban would cripple competition. Plus, the language of any compromise could still change before the vote.
Washington, not Wall Street, holds the next test. Traders are focused on Thursday’s Senate Banking debate, looking for amendments—particularly on stablecoin rewards and which regulator will gain the upper hand.
