CLARITY Act Update: Crypto Bill Delayed to September After Senate Recess

The U.S. Senate will wait until September to consider the CLARITY Act after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement before the August recess. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Democrats opposed a pre-recess vote and wanted negotiations on the crypto market structure bill to continue.

The delay gives senators more time to address ethics rules, banking concerns and other disputed provisions. The bill still needs enough bipartisan support to clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.

Senate Pushes CLARITY Act Vote to September

The Senate entered its August break without taking up the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, or H.R. 3633. Republican leaders had sought a time agreement covering items before lawmakers left Washington. That agreement could have created room for a CLARITY Act vote, but Democrats declined to provide the consent needed for the schedule. Their decision left leaders without floor time to move the bill before recess.

Thune said the Senate would place the bill on its agenda in September. He also retains the option to file cloture, which would start the process toward a floor vote. However, the Senate did not complete that process before the recess, leaving September as the next window for action. Senators can use the break to continue talks and seek votes for a version.