U.S. lawmakers are embroiled in contentious negotiations over crypto market structure legislation as a government shutdown extends into its second week. Senate Democrats have introduced regulations targeting decentralized finance (DeFi), prompting backlash from the crypto industry. The proposed rules require projects interacting with customers to register as brokers, while exempting non-revenue-generating DeFi projects. Developers would be protected from liability for open-source project usage if they do not profit. Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott is pushing for a markup hearing, but Democrats are seeking further input on the bill's text. A markup session initially set for September 30 was postponed to October 20, with its future now uncertain. Industry insiders are skeptical about the legislation's passage before spring 2026.