The U.S. government shutdown has caused significant delays in advancing key cryptocurrency legislation, pushing major regulatory efforts to 2026. The shutdown has resulted in federal staff furloughs, halting progress on a crucial crypto market structure bill intended to delineate oversight responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC. Industry leaders express concern that these delays could defer critical votes until the 2026 midterm elections, exacerbating political gridlock and internal divisions within both major political parties.