š° The US Senate has taken a significant step by voting to pass H.J. Res 109, a resolution to overturn the SECās controversial Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121 (SAB 121).š°
The Senateās 60-38 vote follows the House of Representativesā approval. This outcome reflects bipartisan support against the SECās crypto policy.
SAB 121, introduced in March 2022, requires financial institutions to list customersā digital assets on their balance sheets. Critics argue this mandate creates substantial operational and financial burdens for firms handling cryptocurrencies. The policy has faced opposition for potentially exposing customersā assets to risks in bankruptcy situations.
Senator Cynthia Lummis, a vocal pro-crypto advocate, spearheaded the resolutionās passage. During the hearing, she emphasized the dangers of SAB 121, explaining that placing customersā assets on institutional balance sheets could jeopardize those assets during bankruptcies.
After the vote, Lummis expressed satisfaction on social media. She highlights the Senateās decision as a victory for financial innovation and a rebuke of the current administrationās approach to crypto regulation.
The crypto community celebrated the Senateās decision. Michael Saylor, founder of MicroStrategy and a well-known Bitcoin advocate, expressed his excitement on X. He emphasizes broad support for Bitcoin.
Despite the resolutionās success in Congress, it did not secure enough votes to be veto-proof. President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the resolution. His administration argues that overturning SAB 121 would weaken the SECās ability to protect investors and the financial system from crypto-related risks. However, lawmakers like Representative Mike Flood, who sponsored the resolution, continue to urge the president to reconsider.