Top U.S. lawmakers are preparing to meet with major crypto industry figures this week in a private roundtable that could shape upcoming policy decisions.
- Sen. Gillibrand to host crypto roundtable with industry leaders on Oct. 22.
- Participants include executives from Coinbase, Ripple, Chainlink, and Uniswap.
- Meeting follows backlash over a leaked DeFi proposal and stalled negotiations.
Pro-crypto Senate Democrats will meet with leading crypto executives on Oct. 22 to discuss stalled digital asset legislation and the future of DeFi regulation.
According to an Oct. 20 post on X by Crypto in America host Eleanor Terrett, the roundtable, led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), will bring together executives from Coinbase, Chainlink, Ripple, Uniswap, and others to discuss a path forward after bipartisan negotiations broke down following backlash to a leaked decentralized finance proposal.
Industry leaders join Senators in crypto roundtable
The Oct. 22 meeting marks one of the most significant direct engagements between U.S. lawmakers and crypto executives this year. Expected attendees include Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Chainlink’s Sergey Nazarov, Galaxy’s Mike Novogratz, Kraken’s David Ripley, Uniswap’s Hayden Adams, Ripple’s Stuart Alderoty, and Circle’s Dante Disparte.
The discussion will focus on digital asset market structure and DeFi oversight. It follows weeks of tension on Capitol Hill after a leaked Democratic DeFi proposal drew criticism from both Republicans and the crypto industry. Armstrong had called the draft a “nonstarter,” arguing it could drive developers and capital offshore.
Sen. Gillibrand, one of the sponsors of the bipartisan Responsible Financial Innovation Act, is leading the effort to reset the dialogue. She will be joined by other crypto-friendly Democrats such as Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mark Warner (D-VA), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO), who have each advocated for clearer regulatory guardrails and expanded CFTC oversight of digital assets.
Renewed push for compromise after backlash
The meeting aims to revive legislative progress that stalled earlier in October when negotiations with Republicans broke down. Industry groups, including the Digital Chamber of Commerce and Blockchain Association, had warned that the leaked DeFi framework would “effectively ban” decentralized finance and wallets in the U.S.
A coalition letter signed by more than 20 crypto firms, among them Chainlink, VanEck, and Binance.US, urged lawmakers to adopt “bright line” definitions that protect innovation. Analysts say the roundtable could serve as a turning point for Democrats seeking to rebuild trust with the industry before year-end sessions.
While no legislative text is expected immediately, insiders describe the event as an “inflection point” that may determine whether a crypto market structure bill advances in the current Congress.
