Many crypto bills have been stuck in almost-done mode for weeks.

Now Senate Republicans are trying something creative to break the logjam - and crypto may be involved.

A Housing Bill Became a Bargaining Chip

Here's what's happening: The Senate passed a big housing bill earlier this month. 

The House passed its own version last month, and it included a section full of rules that community banks have been asking for.

Think deregulation - lighter oversight, fewer requirements.

Senate Banking Committee Republicans floated an idea at a closed-door meeting Thursday: take those banking provisions from the House bill and attach them to the crypto market structure bill. 

The Crypto Bill Still Has Its Own Problems

The meeting Thursday wasn't just about housing though - Trump administration officials were in the room, and lawmakers spent time on the actual substance of the crypto bill - formally called the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.

The biggest open question has been stablecoin rewards. 

Banks have fought hard against letting crypto exchanges offer interest-like payments to people holding stablecoins - digital tokens pegged to the dollar. 

Their argument is simple: if stablecoins start acting like savings accounts, depositors might pull money out of banks.

Crypto companies, led by Coinbase, have pushed back just as hard. 

But that fight appears to be winding down. 

What's Still Standing in the Way

Even if the stablecoin issue gets resolved, there are some roadblocks left.

First, they want rules that stop senior government officials and lawmakers from cashing in on personal crypto holdings. 

Next, the SEC this week rolled out the first-ever system for classifying crypto assets under U.S. rules. 

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and two Republican commissioners said they're ready to work with the CFTC to put the new law into practice - once Congress actually passes one.