U. S. Government Shutdown: Crypto Laws in Limbo

The U. S. government shutdown is dragging on, and it's not just causing trouble for federal workers. It's also putting a big question mark over crypto laws. The shutdown started on October 1, 2025, after Congress couldn't agree on funding. If it keeps going, it'll break the record for the longest shutdown ever. Crypto laws have been stuck in the mud for a while, but this shutdown isn't helping. With each passing day, the chances of getting anything done seem to shrink. Congress had set some deadlines for itself, like the one for market structure legislation on October 20. But with the shutdown, those deadlines are looking more like suggestions than rules. As the year winds down, Congress has other big things to worry about, like the National Defense Authorization Act. That's a must-pass bill for military spending. So, crypto laws might not be at the top of their list. But there's still some hope. The Senate Agriculture Committee is working on a draft for market structure legislation. If that goes well, things might start moving again. But the shutdown is a big wild card. The longer it goes on, the less time there is for Congress to deal with crypto laws. There's even talk that Democrats might give up on their demands for lower healthcare premiums. If that happens, it could affect how willing they are to compromise on crypto laws. Next week, there are some important events to watch. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals will hear Sam Bankman-Fried's appeal. And the developers of Samourai Wallet will be sentenced for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.