White House Crypto Adviser Urges Unity as Market Structure Bill Delayed

VADODARA, January 15, 2026 — Latest crypto news: White House adviser David Sacks has called for industry consensus on a crypto market structure bill, following Coinbase's withdrawal of support and the postponement of a Senate markup session. Market structure suggests this regulatory friction introduces a new layer of uncertainty into an already complex liquidity .

Market Context & Background

Underlying this trend is a multi-year struggle to define jurisdictional boundaries between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Historical cycles indicate that regulatory clarity often precedes institutional adoption phases, similar to the post-ETF approval surge in 2024. The current bill aims to establish a comprehensive framework, but disagreements over key provisions have created a Fair Value Gap (FVG) in market expectations. Consequently, the delay mirrors past legislative hurdles that temporarily suppressed price action until resolution.

Related developments include ongoing questions about US Bitcoin ETF market structure and Bitcoin's recent test of key support levels, highlighting how regulatory news impacts technical setups.

What Happened?

According to a statement on X from David Sacks, the White House adviser for AI and cryptocurrency, the industry must resolve disagreements to secure the bill's near passage. This call for unity followed Coinbase's official withdrawal of support, citing several critical issues. The exchange identified a de facto ban on tokenized stocks, provisions potentially blocking DeFi, a weakening of CFTC authority in favor of the SEC, and the possibility of banning stablecoin reward features. Consequently, a Senate markup session scheduled for January 15 was postponed, as reported in the original source from Coinness.

Technical Analysis & Price Action

On-chain data indicates that regulatory headlines often act as liquidity grabs, triggering short-term volatility. Bitcoin's current price action near $96,028 is testing a Volume Profile Point of Control (POC) established over the past month. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on daily charts sits at 58, suggesting neutral momentum with a slight bullish bias, but this could shift if regulatory uncertainty persists. A key Fibonacci retracement level at $94,500 (61.8% from the recent swing high) serves as critical support. Bullish invalidation occurs if price breaks and closes below this level, signaling a potential bearish order block activation. Bearish invalidation is set at a reclaim of $98,200, which would indicate renewed buying pressure and negate short-term downside targets.

By The Numbers

Why It Matters

For institutions, the bill's delay prolongs jurisdictional ambiguity, potentially slowing capital deployment into crypto assets. According to the SEC's official website, regulatory clarity is essential for compliant product development, such as tokenized securities. For retail, provisions affecting DeFi and stablecoin rewards could limit access to yield-generating protocols, altering portfolio strategies. Market structure suggests that without a clear path forward, fragmentation may increase, leading to inefficiencies in liquidity pools and cross-chain interoperability.

Community Sentiment

Market analysts on X have expressed mixed reactions. Bulls argue that eventual passage could mirror the positive impact of the significant inflows into BlackRock's IBIT ETF, driving long-term adoption. Bears highlight Coinbase's concerns as indicative of deeper industry divides, potentially stalling progress. One quant trader noted, "Regulatory gamma squeeze effects are real—uncertainty amplifies volatility until a clear resolution emerges."

Price Prediction / Future Outlook

Bullish Case: If the industry reaches consensus and the bill passes with favorable amendments, regulatory clarity could catalyze a wave of institutional investment. Technical analysis suggests a breakout above $98,200 could target $102,000, aligning with historical post-regulatory rallies. On-chain data indicates accumulation by large holders could support this move.

Bearish Case: Prolonged disagreements or a watered-down bill may sustain uncertainty, leading to capital outflows. A break below $94,500 could trigger a liquidation cascade, targeting $90,000 support. Market structure warns that regulatory headwinds often correlate with extended consolidation phases, as seen during previous SEC enforcement actions.