Crypto, Banks Take Clarity Act Lobbying Fight to Senators' Home States

Crypto advocates and community bankers are taking their fight over the Clarity Act to senators' home states ahead of a key vote next week.

The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the Clarity Act⁠ on September 15. The legislation would establish federal rules for digital assets and divide oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

According to a report by Reuters, during the August recess, both sides targeted senators with meetings, local events, op-eds, calls, emails, and advertising.

Stand With Crypto, a Coinbase-backed advocacy group that says it has 3 million supporters, said members called or emailed Congress nearly 50,000 times in August while organizing events and placing pro-Clarity Act op-eds in local newspapers. In Georgia, chapter president Tia Williams met with staff for Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, who voted against advancing the bill out of the Senate Banking Committee.

Crypto groups have already spent at least $190 million ahead of the November midterm elections.

The Blockchain Association launched Clarity for America in July to help individuals and companies contact senators in support of the bill.