Key Takeaways
- The CLARITY Act has attracted support from a wide range of political and industry stakeholders.
- Support comes from lawmakers, industry groups, consumer advocates, national security voices, and Trump.
- Critics continue seeking stronger safeguards on conflicts, illicit finance, and market risks.
CLARITY Act Push Gains Momentum as Lawmakers Warn of Global Stakes
Momentum behind the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) has accelerated as lawmakers push for federal digital asset rules. Backers warn the U.S. risks losing influence as other jurisdictions advance crypto frameworks. The debate now centers on market certainty, consumer protection, innovation, and financial leadership.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Representative French Hill (R-AR), Representative Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) are among the bill’s leading advocates. Industry groups, consumer organizations, national security voices, and President Donald Trump have also backed the push.
On June 5, Lummis warned in an X post:
“If we don’t pass the CLARITY Act this Congress, we are handing the future of digital finance to jurisdictions that do not share our values.”
“The CLARITY Act doesn’t pick winners. It creates a level field where the best ideas win. That’s how America is supposed to work,” she also wrote in a June 4 X post. Lummis has repeatedly argued that delays allow other countries to set rules the U.S. should be writing.
US Lawmakers Frame CLARITY Act as Market Rules Fight
Chairman Scott said the bill “puts consumers first, combats illicit finance, cracks down on criminals and foreign adversaries, and keeps the future of finance here in the United States.” Hill stressed it “prioritizes consumer protection and American innovation.” Thompson noted:
“This landmark legislation will protect consumers, unleash entrepreneurship, and ensure the United States sets the global standard for the future of innovation.”
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 would create a federal market structure framework for digital assets. It would divide oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while setting rules for token classification, disclosures, custody, exchanges, brokers, and consumer protections.
The House passed H.R. 3633, the CLARITY Act, in July 2025, and the Senate Banking Committee advanced the measure in a 15-9 bipartisan vote on May 14, 2026. The bill must still clear the full Senate before lawmakers resolve any differences with the House version and send final legislation to the president.
Supporters view the measure as a way to reduce regulatory uncertainty, while critics continue pushing for stronger safeguards addressing conflicts of interest, illicit finance concerns, and broader market risks.
Support Broadens as Senate Fight Over CLARITY Act Deepens
Support now extends beyond crypto-focused groups. A Harrisx poll found 52% support after voters reviewed the proposal, while 70% said the U.S. should already have passed crypto legislation. More than 160 national security veterans backed the measure. AARP, a leading advocacy group for older Americans, also endorsed Section 205, citing crypto kiosk scams and reported losses exceeding $389 million.
Crypto advocacy group Stand With Crypto urged senators to support final passage, while 28,000 Americans signed a petition calling for Senate action. A16z crypto, the digital asset investment arm of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, warned the U.S. risks falling behind Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. Ripple has also backed the legislation.
Lummis also cautioned:
“The next window for digital asset legislation after this Congress is likely 2030.”
“Until then, developers remain exposed with no legal protections, and law enforcement remains without the tools to hold bad actors accountable. The CLARITY Act solves both,” she noted.
The Senate fight remains contested. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) opposed the bill during committee markup and offered 44 amendments, none of which passed. Trump has urged Congress to send the CLARITY Act to his desk, arguing that the U.S. should lead in crypto and digital finance rather than allow banks or regulators to undercut the administration’s agenda. Lummis has also argued that failed exchanges can force customers into creditor proceedings instead of guaranteed asset access.
