New York, Jan 16, 2026, 10:52 EST — Regular session
- Shares of Robinhood dipped in early trading, dragged down alongside other crypto-linked stocks.
- A Senate committee halted discussion on a broad crypto market-structure bill following objections from Coinbase’s CEO.
- Traders are keeping an eye on the bill’s progress and Robinhood’s earnings report due Feb. 10.
Shares of Robinhood Markets dropped 2.8% to $107.27 in early trading Friday. Roughly 11.5 million shares traded hands, putting the online brokerage’s market cap near $127 billion.
The shift is significant since HOOD now acts as a quick gauge of sentiment around crypto and U.S. policy risk. When lawmakers hesitate, traders often flock to the same stocks that have already been reacting to digital-asset news.
The risk intensified this week when Washington’s newest crypto regulation bill hit a snag. The legislation aims to clarify which regulator is in charge and how crypto companies can provide customer incentives—details investors find tough to value.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong took to X to say his company cannot back the draft legislation, adding: “We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill.” Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott noted that lawmakers and industry players “remain at the table working in good faith,” after the committee postponed the planned “markup” session—where members usually debate and vote on the draft. Reuters reported the bill would cap interest earned just for holding stablecoins, the dollar-pegged tokens, while still permitting rewards linked to certain activities. The bill would also need at least seven Democratic votes in the full Senate following the House’s July approval of its version. (Reuters)
Crypto prices dipped as stocks also slipped. Bitcoin dropped 1.4%, with ether sliding 1.2%. Coinbase shares lost roughly 0.8%, and ETFs tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged down marginally.
Robinhood’s worry isn’t just one clause—it’s the drawn-out timeline. A prolonged delay muddies the regulatory outlook, which can dampen interest in the sector, even if the wider market stays steady.
The draft remains unsettled, and reaching a compromise might drag on beyond what traders anticipate—or collapse entirely—leaving crypto firms navigating inconsistent federal guidance and patchy regulations. A further drop in major tokens could also dampen retail trading and squeeze transaction-based earnings.
Investors are awaiting any new Senate movement on the bill, but Robinhood’s next crucial date is its earnings report. The company plans to unveil its Q4 and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 10, after markets close. It will also hold a video call at 5 p.m. ET that day, the company said. (Globenewswire)
