New York, January 13, 2026, 10:14 ET — Regular session
- XRP edged up after U.S. senators advanced a long-awaited crypto market structure bill toward a committee vote this week.
- The draft aims to clarify the divide between securities and commodities when it comes to digital tokens, placing greater regulatory authority with the CFTC.
- Traders are eyeing Thursday’s markup for any amendments and if the bill holds enough backing to move forward.
XRP edged up 0.36% in the last 24 hours, settling at $2.07 on Tuesday, with its price fluctuating between $2.04 and $2.11.
Late Monday, U.S. senators introduced draft legislation aimed at creating a federal framework for digital assets and defining regulatory responsibilities. The bill would prohibit crypto companies from offering interest solely for holding dollar-pegged stablecoins but would permit certain rewards linked to transactions like payments or loyalty incentives.
This is crucial now as the Senate is setting deadlines on a debate that’s long shadowed crypto prices: are tokens commodities, securities, or a hybrid? And what kind of disclosures should come with them.
XRP, the token linked to payments company Ripple Labs, often reacts sharply to regulatory news. This is largely due to U.S. rules being shaped more by enforcement actions and court battles than by clear legislation.
“Families and small businesses benefit from clear rules of the road,” said Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott as he unveiled a bipartisan manager’s amendment following months of talks. Senate Banking Committee
The House approved its version of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act back in July 2025, but progress in the Senate has been sporadic since.
Politics complicate the scene. Senator Elizabeth Warren flagged the bill’s draft, saying it could undermine the SEC’s power and, combined with a Trump executive order she referenced, put retirement accounts at risk from “volatile crypto assets.” She emphasized that for most Americans, their 401(k) is a crucial retirement safety net—not a speculative playground. Warren has asked the SEC to respond by Jan. 27. Senate Banking Committee
Macro data shaped sentiment too. U.S. consumer prices climbed 0.3% in December and 2.7% year-over-year. Core inflation edged up 0.2% monthly, supporting bets that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady at its upcoming meeting.
Bitcoin and ether edged higher early Tuesday across the broader crypto market. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins tweeted, “This is a big week for crypto.” At the same time, Joel Kruger, a strategist at LMAX Group, noted that bitcoin and ether were “forming bullish continuation structures” amid a steadier regulatory mood coming out of Washington.
For XRP, the immediate spotlight isn’t on fresh technology but on the wording of legislation: specifically, if lawmakers preserve the stablecoin-reward provisions and how they divvy up oversight between the SEC and the CFTC.
Thursday’s Senate Banking Committee markup is the next key test, with the initial batch of amendments set to determine if the CLARITY bill advances to the Senate floor or faces another delay.
