Senators emerged Wednesday evening from closed-door negotiations over cryptocurrency legislation without a deal to trumpet, leaving the landmark digital assets bill in flux ahead of a key procedural vote on Thursday.
Republicans plan to proceed with the vote as scheduled, according to a GOP aide with knowledge of the matter. Some Democrats were pushing Wednesday afternoon to delay the procedural vote.
“I’m still hopeful,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a pro-crypto New York Democrat who has been helping lead negotiations on behalf of Democrats.
Asked about the Thursday procedural vote, she said she didn’t “know what’s going to happen yet,” adding that it is “all on the leadership level now.”
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), the lead sponsor of the bill, said aides will continue working into the evening, adding that he asked members “to maintain radio silence until we get to where we want to be.”
Key Democrats including Gillibrand, Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland met with Hagerty and other pro-crypto Republicans throughout the day Wednesday.
If lawmakers come to a deal late Wednesday night, it will give members who haven’t been directly involved in negotiations limited time to review the legislative text of a complicated policy matter.
The procedural vote is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
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