Bitcoin faces uncertainty after Clarity Act bill rejection in Senate

The US Senate voted 49-50 on September 15 to block debate on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, falling well short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill. Bitcoin slid toward $76,000 on the news, a nearly 3% drop, while Ether fell roughly 5% and XRP cratered 10%.

The CLARITY Act, formally known as H.R. 3633, had a seemingly straightforward goal: split regulatory oversight of digital assets between the CFTC and SEC. The House passed it with a 294-134 vote back in July 2025. The Senate Banking Committee cleared it 15-9 in May 2026, with bipartisan support. Prediction markets pegged the odds of passage at 82%.

The core dispute centered on conflict-of-interest language designed to prevent senior government officials from profiting off digital assets while simultaneously shaping the rules around them. Democrats wanted tougher restrictions, particularly given reports that President Trump had realized roughly $1.4 billion in crypto profits during 2025.

The final bill text dropped on September 14, incorporating 126 changes that Democrats had requested. It wasn't enough. Not a single Democratic senator voted to advance the legislation, and several Republicans crossed the aisle to join the opposition.