White House to Host Banks and Crypto Firms in Bid to Break Legislative Deadlock

The White House is convening senior executives from major banks and cryptocurrency companies in a high-stakes policy meeting aimed at resolving disputes that have stalled landmark crypto legislation in Congress, according to sources familiar with the meeting. The session is scheduled for early February 2026 and will be hosted by the administration’s crypto council as lawmakers try to salvage a stalled market structure bill known informally as the Clarity Act. 

The talks will focus on one of the bill’s most contentious issues: whether crypto firms should be permitted to offer interest or other rewards on customer holdings of dollar-pegged stablecoins. Crypto industry leaders argue that the ability to offer returns is essential for competitiveness and customer adoption, while traditional banks warn that such provisions could trigger massive deposit outflows and threaten financial stability if depositors shift funds into yield-bearing stablecoins. 

The Clarity Act — which passed the House but has faced setbacks in the Senate — seeks to establish a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for digital assets. Friction between the banking and crypto sectors, particularly over stablecoin yield rules and regulatory jurisdiction, has contributed to months of legislative delay. The White House’s effort to bring both sides together underscores the Trump administration’s push to move the bill forward, building on its broader crypto agenda. 

Industry groups including the Blockchain Association and The Digital Chamber have publicly welcomed the summit, saying it provides a needed forum to bridge disagreements and help Congress advance lasting market structure laws that protect consumers while supporting innovation. Observers say the meeting reflects growing recognition among policymakers that crypto regulation can’t be decoupled from wider financial system risks, especially as stablecoins and digital assets grow in usage and importance.