Anouncement
Anouncement
WASHINGTON — A major piece of U.S. cryptocurrency legislation will have to wait until the fall. U.S. Senate leaders have officially postponed the highly anticipated vote on the CLARITY Act, pushing the crypto market structure bill beyond the August legislative recess to September.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed late Thursday that the measure would be “queued” for consideration when lawmakers return to Washington. The delay marks a reversal from the timeline envisioned by Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, who had previously pushed for a vote before the chamber adjourned for its summer break.
The postponement comes after seven Democratic senators rejected a Republican draft of the bill on July 22, effectively blocking the path to a pre-recess vote. The group of defectors notably included Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Ruben Gallego—two Democrats who had previously joined Republicans to advance the legislation through the Senate Banking Committee earlier this year.
According to lawmakers, the holdout stems from demands to strengthen provisions surrounding:
Because Senate leadership requires a 60-vote threshold to invoke cloture and overcome a filibuster, Republican sponsors are mathematically dependent on Democratic support to move the bill forward.
A central sticking point in the ongoing negotiations is the debate over ethics rules for elected officials holding cryptocurrency interests. Democrats have advocated for stricter regulations, reportedly driven in part by concerns regarding President Donald Trump and his family’s growing digital asset businesses. A potential divestiture requirement is currently being negotiated with the White House, though no agreement has been finalized.
Despite the setback, the CLARITY Act remains the most advanced and comprehensive cryptocurrency regulatory framework to move through Congress.
The legislation originally cleared the House of Representatives in July 2025 as H.R. 3633. The Senate Banking Committee later advanced an amended version in May 2026 by a 15-9 margin. In late July, Senator Cynthia Lummis unveiled an updated merged text combining the efforts of both the Banking and Agriculture committees.
If eventually passed, the CLARITY Act would establish a definitive federal market structure for digital assets. Key provisions include:
While Senator Thune emphasized that the delay does not kill the legislation, the new September timeline significantly tightens the political window. When lawmakers return, they will face mounting pressure from upcoming spending fights and the fast-approaching November 2026 midterm elections.
Furthermore, even if the Senate manages to find enough bipartisan compromise to pass the bill in September, the chamber will still need to reconcile its amended version with the House before a final package can be sent to President Trump’s desk.
