US lawmakers may face a narrowing window to pass long-awaited crypto legislation. Speaking at the World Liberty Forum, Senator Bernie Moreno said a comprehensive market structure bill could pass “hopefully by the end of April.”
The Ohio Senator stressed that Congress must act within the next 90 days to maintain momentum.
The remarks, delivered at an event hosted by World Liberty Financial at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, highlighted both urgency and persistent friction between the banking sector and the digital asset industry.
According to live reporting, Bernie Moreno acknowledged the difficulty of negotiations, saying the process had “taken years off my life,” while reiterating that lawmakers “have to get it done in the next 90 days.”
Moreno has been one of the most vocal advocates for federal crypto legislation, particularly measures tied to frameworks such as the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which aims to define whether digital tokens fall under securities or commodities law and to establish clearer oversight of trading platforms and stablecoins.
Although elements of crypto legislation have already passed the House, Senate progress has slowed in recent months amid lobbying, technical disagreements, and partisan divisions.
Moreno’s timeline suggests lawmakers are attempting to push negotiations toward a decisive phase before the legislative calendar tightens further.
One of the most contentious issues remains whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield or rewards to users.
Banks have argued that yield-bearing stablecoins could draw deposits away from the TradFi system. Meanwhile, crypto firms maintain that such features are essential to innovation and competition.
At the forum, Moreno drew applause after vowing not to allow banks to reopen provisions already settled in the GENIUS Act.
Sources familiar with negotiations indicated that talks between banks and crypto stakeholders have made little progress in recent weeks. This strengthens concerns that the legislative timetable could slip further.
Standing alongside Moreno, Ashley Moody injected a note of humor into the discussion, drawing laughter from the audience.
She also highlighted the intense scrutiny facing lawmakers as they attempt to finalize the bill.