New York, Jan 15, 2026, 10:11 ET — Regular session
- XRP slipped to around $2.12 following a retreat from its recent peak.
- A Senate committee delayed debate on a crypto market-structure bill following objections from Coinbase.
- As Ripple expands further into Europe, it highlighted a preliminary licence from Luxembourg.
XRP dropped roughly 3% to near $2.12 on Thursday, retreating from a high of $2.17 recorded in the previous 24 hours. (CoinDesk)
The dip follows a setback in Washington’s push to regulate crypto. The Senate Banking Committee postponed a scheduled debate on draft legislation aimed at creating a regulatory framework for digital assets after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong voiced opposition to the bill as it stands. “We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill,” Armstrong said. Chairman Tim Scott indicated negotiations are ongoing. (Reuters)
Scott’s committee planned to hold an executive session Thursday to review H.R.3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025. However, the committee’s hearing page now shows the session as postponed. (Senate)
Ripple, known for its XRP token, pushed licensing news on Wednesday, revealing it had won preliminary approval for an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence from Luxembourg’s financial watchdog, the CSSF. This follows last week’s nod from U.K. regulators. “The EU was amongst the first major jurisdictions to introduce comprehensive digital assets regulation,” said Ripple President Monica Long. Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s managing director for UK & Europe, described Luxembourg as “a premier hub for financial innovation.” (Ripple)
An EMI licence acts as a regulatory green light, allowing payments companies to issue electronic money and operate payment services under supervision. Ripple is banking on this as it pushes its cross-border payments offering.
Bitcoin held steady near $95,500 as ether lingered close to $3,329. XRP slipped roughly 1.8%, with a number of other major tokens also drifting lower, according to data from Investing.com. (Investing)
The risks, however, are clear. A drawn-out battle over the Senate bill—or tweaks that alter stablecoin rules, like capping “rewards”—could leave the sector in regulatory limbo. XRP often moves with overall market risk appetite, even when news hits specific to the company.
Traders are eyeing a fresh date for the Senate markup and whether Coinbase will rejoin talks. Crypto desks sensitive to macro moves are also focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting set for Jan. 27-28, with the decision expected on Jan. 28. (Federalreserve)
