Bessent to Senate: Pass CLARITY Act or Forfeit Crypto Security Tools on Sept. 15

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pressed the Senate on Wednesday to move forward on the CLARITY Act, warning that failure would send a damaging signal to allies and adversaries about America’s willingness to lead on digital assets. The call came five days ahead of a critical Sept. 15 cloture vote.

What the Sept. 15 Vote Actually Decides, and What It Does Not

Bessent posted his warning on X on Sept. 9, urging senators to agree to the motion to proceed and stay at the negotiating table.

He said walking away would signal that the U.S. is “willing to forgo enhanced national security tools to combat their misuse.” The post drew over 723,000 views and 16,400 likes within hours.

This marks a clear shift in tone. His July call pushed urgency on market structure and timing. Now, Bessent is framing the CLARITY Act as a national security instrument, not just a market regulation bill.

That pivot carries weight, especially ahead of a procedural vote that could close the bill’s 2026 window.

As CoinGape reported, former Pentagon chief Mark Esper made a parallel national security case ahead of the same vote, signaling that defense and Treasury voices are now aligned on this frame.

The Sept. 15 vote is not a vote on the CLARITY Act itself. It is a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. A yes vote unlocks floor debate. A no vote kills the bill’s current path.