The CLARITY Act Just Cleared a Major Hurdle. Here’s What Happens Next

TLDR

• The Senate Banking Committee voted 15-9 to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act)
• Two Democrats joined all 13 Republicans to pass the bill out of committee
• The bill still needs 60 votes to pass the full Senate floor vote
• Ethics concerns around Trump’s crypto ties remain a key sticking point
• The bill must also clear the House before heading to the president’s desk

The Senate Banking Committee voted on Thursday to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, known as the CLARITY Act, in a 15-9 bipartisan vote. The bill is designed to create a regulatory framework for digital asset companies and markets in the United States.

All 13 Republican senators on the committee voted yes. Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks crossed party lines to support it. Nine Democrats voted against the bill.

Committee chair Tim Scott said the legislation was focused on protecting consumers, supporting innovation in the US, and protecting national security interests tied to digital assets.

How the Vote Came Together

Behind-the-scenes negotiations during the markup helped flip some Democratic votes. Chairman Scott agreed to allow additional amendments to be considered, which brought extra investor protections and clearer rules around decentralized finance into the bill.

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, had pushed for stronger protections around decentralized finance projects. His priorities were reflected in the last-minute amendments, which passed with wide bipartisan support.

More than 100 amendments were debated during the markup. Most failed along party lines. These included proposals on stablecoin rules, money laundering, crypto mixer regulation, and restrictions on federal agencies bailing out crypto companies.

Ethics Provisions Still Unresolved

One of the biggest unresolved issues is an ethics provision. Democrats want rules to prevent government officials, including the president, from profiting off crypto assets they help regulate. Trump’s family runs World Liberty Financial and has issued memecoins.

White House adviser Patrick Witt told an audience at Consensus Miami 2026 earlier this month that any rule targeting the president specifically would not be accepted. He said any ethics rules must apply “across the board.”

Cody Carbone of the Digital Chamber told reporters a deal on the ethics provision will likely need to happen before the bill goes to the Senate floor. He said leaders will only bring it to a vote when they are confident they have the 60 votes needed.

The bill now moves toward a merger with a similar bill passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee. After that, a final version will be sent to the full Senate for a floor vote, then to the House.

Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger called Thursday’s vote a “defining moment,” saying lasting digital asset policy must be built on bipartisan ground.

The Senate legislative calendar is tight. Industry observers say the vote likely needs to happen before August, ahead of the summer recess and midterm election campaigns.

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