A group of prominent cryptocurrency executives is set to meet with Senate Democrats on Wednesday, October 20, 2025, in a private roundtable hosted by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to discuss the future of U.S. crypto market structure legislation. This meeting aims to revive stalled bipartisan negotiations on comprehensive digital asset rules, which have faced political gridlock in Congress.
Key attendees include CEOs and representatives from major crypto firms: Coinbase's Brian Armstrong, Chainlink's Sergey Nazarov, Galaxy Digital's Mike Novogratz, Kraken's David Ripley, Uniswap's Hayden Adams, Circle's Dante Disparte, Ripple's Stuart Alderoty, Jito's Rebecca Rettig, a16z Crypto's Miles Jennings, and the Solana Policy Institute's Kristin Smith. More participants may join, according to journalist Eleanor Terrett.
The discussion comes amid a growing partisan divide, with Democrats and Republicans proposing competing regulatory frameworks. Senator Gillibrand, a co-sponsor of the Responsible Financial Innovation Act alongside Senator Cynthia Lummis, has emerged as a Democratic advocate for regulatory clarity. Topics on the agenda include stablecoin rules, exchange licensing frameworks, and consumer protection measures.
Analysts from TD Cowen warned that delays could push progress on crypto market structure legislation beyond the 2026 midterm elections. Meanwhile, a leaked six-page Democratic proposal focused on curbing illicit activity in DeFi has drawn criticism for potentially stifling innovation. The roundtable represents a renewed effort to bridge divides and bring long-awaited legislation back to the forefront.
In a related development, the CFTC recently added crypto leaders to its advisory committees, signaling ongoing integration of industry expertise into policymaking. Additionally, Congressman Zachary Nunn has called for a national security review of Chinese mining firms, highlighting broader regulatory concerns.
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