Senators have a deal on the crypto amendment, and Treasury won't oppose it

  • Treasury will not oppose a bipartisan agreement over two competing amendments that limits federal regulation of cryptocurrencies.
  • The agreement between the two rival crypto amendments is the product of negotiations with Treasury.

The Treasury Department will not oppose a bipartisan agreement that limits a proposal in the infrastructure bill to increase federal regulation of cryptocurrencies.

"I am grateful to Senators Warner, Portman, Sinema, Toomey and Lummis for working together
on this amendment to provide clarity on important provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure deal that will make meaningful progress on tax evasion in the cryptocurrency market," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement out Monday afternoon. "I am also thankful to Chair Wyden for his leadership and engagement on these important issues."

Earlier, Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Mark Warner, D-Va., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio said they were negotiating with Treasury to get the amendment right.

"We've worked with the Treasury Department to clarify the underlying text and ensure that those who are not acting as brokers will not be subject to the bill's reporting requirements," the group said in a press release.

"While we each would have drafted this solution differently, we all agree it's important to ensure that these obligations are properly crafted to apply only to entities that are regularly effectuating transactions of digital assets in exchange for consideration," they added.

CNBC Politics

Read more of CNBC's politics coverage:

  • Democrats release sprawling budget plan as Senate moves to pass bipartisan infrastructure bill
  • Biden could start reshaping the Fed next month — and progressives will want a say
  • Jeffrey Epstein victims fund awarded almost $125 million to about 150 people

The White House had initially backed an amendment supported by Warner, Sinema and Portman, which would have exempt more cryptocurrency actors from greater regulation than the bill's original language, but fewer than Wyden, Toomey and Lummis wanted.

But with Treasury now supporting a deal between the two sides, the compromise is likely somewhere in the middle. The details of the agreement between the two groups of senators were not available as of early Monday afternoon.

Bitcoin was up 5.1% on the session at $45,886 as of 1:37 p.m. ET.

Source: Read Full Article