Senator Lummis Warns: CLARITY Act Might be Delayed Until 2030

• Lummis warns the CLARITY Act may not pass again until 2030 if the 2026 window closes.
• Senate returns April 13; late-April markup key before election slowdown stalls progress.
• The bill still faces 5 steps, including 60 votes in the Senate and House alignment.

US Senator Cynthia Lummis has warned Congress to pass the CLARITY Act now or expect a long delay. She stated the bill may not get another real chance until at least 2030 if lawmakers fail to act before the 2026 midterm cycle.

Interestingly, Congress returns from Easter recess on April 13, with Senate Banking Committee markup expected in late April. If this window slips, campaign priorities will take over. Analysts expect legislative activity to slow sharply heading into the November elections.

Market estimates already point to a multi-year freeze, with meaningful progress unlikely before 2027 and full passage potentially delayed to 2030.

Core Structure of the CLARITY Act

The CLARITY Act aims to split oversight between regulators and remove current confusion in US crypto markets.

Most digital assets would fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as commodities. Tokens that act like investment contracts would stay under the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The bill also sets rules for stablecoins. A key compromise bans passive yield on stablecoin balances but allows rewards tied to activity. This point has delayed progress for months.

Consumer protection is another focus. The framework includes custody rules, stricter disclosures, and controls against fraud and market manipulation. This draft is designed to give firms clear rules. Without it, companies continue to operate in a fragmented system with overlapping enforcement.

Five Hurdles Before Final Approval

The bill is not close to becoming law yet. It must clear multiple steps in sequence. It needs approval from the Senate Banking Committee. Then it must secure 60 votes on the Senate floor.

After that, it must align with the House version passed in July 2025 and another Senate draft from the Agriculture Committee in January 2026. Final approval requires the President’s signature.

There are still political disputes. Democratic lawmakers are pushing for rules that block officials from profiting from personal crypto investments. The White House has opposed the addition of this language.

2030 Risk Becomes Base Case

Lummis will leave office in January 2027 and has already confirmed she will not seek another term. This puts added weight on the current push.

The combination of election cycles, unresolved policy disputes, and legislative backlog creates a narrow window. If Congress does not act in the coming months, delay becomes the default outcome.

A delay to 2030 means the US risks falling behind other jurisdictions that already have full frameworks in place. It also means continued uncertainty for firms, investors, and consumers.

Related: Senator Lummis Urges Immediate Passage of CLARITY Act as Crypto Support Builds