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a16z has published an article by U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry titled “The time for Clarity is here: The next-generation Telecoms Act.” The article points out that the advancing crypto market structure legislation, the “CLARITY Act,” holds historical significance similar to the 1996 Telecommunications Act, potentially laying a vital foundation for the next wave of financial innovation in the United States.Patrick McHenry stated that his over 20 years of service in Congress have shown him that timely legislation can propel the nation forward, while legislative stagnation may force the U.S. to play catch-up in critical technological fields. America stands at a crossroads: either maintain its position as the world's leading technology and financial hub, or cede this advantage to competitors challenging its dominance. The CLARITY Act represents one of the few forward-looking financial legislative opportunities in recent years. Like the 1996 Telecommunications Act, it aims to establish consumer protection mechanisms while embracing emerging technological developments. The bill has garnered broad bipartisan support and involves coordination across multiple congressional committees.Patrick McHenry believes that U.S. financial regulation has long been stuck in a “crisis response mode.” Since the 2008 financial crisis, most major financial reforms have primarily targeted past risks, failing to establish an institutional framework for future technological innovation. He argues that crypto market structure legislation has the opportunity to break this pattern and become the first significant reform in nearly 30 years to proactively build the financial system of the future.Regarding the view that existing securities laws are sufficient to cover the crypto industry, this perspective does not reflect market realities. Companies and entrepreneurs are not rejecting regulation; rather, they seek clear rules. “When entrepreneurs know where the boundaries are, they can innovate with greater confidence.” If the CLARITY Act is passed, it will provide regulatory certainty for the digital asset industry, protect consumers and investors, and equip enforcement agencies with tools to combat crime and bad actors. Multiple crypto-related legislative efforts, including the stablecoin regulation bill the GENIUS Act, have gained bipartisan support. An increasing number of lawmakers recognize that digital assets are not going away, and the U.S. needs to establish clear rules to maintain its competitive edge.Other countries around the world are actively advancing digital asset regulatory frameworks. Capital and innovation will flow to markets with clear rules. The CLARITY Act is not just about crypto assets; it concerns whether the U.S. can continue to lead economic development in the 21st century and establish the rules for global technological innovation.
According to The Block, U.S. "Clarity Act" crypto legislation has entered a critical phase, with Representative William Timmons stating, "Legislation will definitely be completed; this is one of the president's priorities and also a bipartisan consensus." Senate Majority Leader John Thune hopes to complete the Senate vote before the recess on August 7, but even if passed by the Senate, the bill still needs to return to the House of Representatives for deliberation, and the overall timeline may extend into the coming months. The current main point of contention lies in the ethics clauses regarding how to restrict federal officials, such as the President, Vice President, and members of Congress, from benefiting from digital assets during their term. Trump, Republican Senators Bernie Moreno and Cynthia Lummis, along with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, held a meeting on Thursday afternoon regarding the ethics clauses, seeking Trump's endorsement. Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego stated that if the ethics clauses do not meet standards, Democrats will not vote in support. Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger is cautiously optimistic about the bill's prospects but warned that if prediction market-related amendments are included, they will become a "poison pill" and should be addressed through separate legislation.
According to CoinDesk, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley held a press conference on Capitol Hill on July 14, publicly announcing opposition to the cryptocurrency market structure bill, the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act" (Clarity Act), and characterized it as "corrupt legislation." The core focus of the three senators' opposition is that the bill currently still fails to incorporate ethical provisions prohibiting the President and senior government officials from personally participating in the crypto industry. Van Hollen stated bluntly that the bill "will cause great harm"; Murphy used even stronger language, stating that if the bill cannot cut off the entanglement of interests between the Trump family and the crypto industry, it "is itself an umbrella for corruption."
Fox Business crypto journalist posted on X platform, stating that after a series of developments in the past 24 hours, industry sources said the Clarity Act amendment text may be released soon. However, as ethical norm negotiations continue, they are also preparing for a possible delay in release until later this week.
US President Trump stated that, in support of Senator Lindsey Graham, the US Senate should pass the Clarity Act. He said that China and other countries are attempting to gain dominance in this important financial sector as well as the artificial intelligence sector, and called on the United States not to lose its competitive advantage in these two areas.
: Industry insiders indicate that after the US Senate reconvenes, it will enter a critical window of approximately four weeks, determining whether the Clarity Act can pass this year. The bill needs to complete the finalized text, Senate debate, and voting before the August recess, and secure at least 60 votes of support in the Senate. Current negotiation focuses include whether to retain the exemption clause for non-custodial developers within the "Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act," and establishing an "ethics framework" for official conflicts of interest regarding President Trump's cryptocurrency business interests. Meanwhile, the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham and the absence of Mitch McConnell have weakened Republican voting power, increasing the importance of securing support from Democratic senators.
Fox Business crypto reporter posted on X platform, stating that this week there will be a dense schedule of economic data, Fed speeches, and further clarification on the status of the Clarity Act. Key points to watch include: the latest inflation data such as CPI and PPI, which could influence market expectations for the Fed's next interest rate decision; Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh will submit the semiannual monetary policy report to Congress and may face questions from lawmakers on Fed-related topics, with Michelle Bowman, Chris Waller, Michael Barr, Lisa Cook, and several regional Fed presidents also expected to speak; the updated version of the Clarity Act will merge texts from the Senate Banking Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee. Some industry sources indicate that key clauses are still under "active negotiation" and the ethics agreement is "not yet finalized." It remains unclear how this will impact the timing of a full Senate vote, with many hoping the vote could be scheduled as early as the week of the 20th.
multiple sources familiar with discussions on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act indicate that U.S. lawmakers plan to release an updated version of the crypto market structure bill this week. The new text incorporates content from bills previously passed by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, with consultations between the two committees on multiple provisions. (CoinDesk)
According to CoinDesk, informed sources revealed that the latest consolidated draft of the U.S. "Digital Asset Market Transparency Act" (Clarity Act) may be released as early as next week, and the Senate is expected to advance deliberations during the week of July 20. The consolidated draft was jointly negotiated by the Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, adding over 70 pages of content and strengthening consumer protection provisions. However, the bill still faces multiple obstacles: Democrats insist on restricting business ties between senior government officials (including the President) and the crypto industry, and the parties have not yet reached a compromise on this ethics provision; additionally, issues such as federal preemption and SEC and CFTC commissioner nominations remain unresolved, and the White House has not participated in the latest negotiations. For the bill to pass in the Senate, it must reach the 60-vote threshold, and the time window is extremely limited—with only about four weeks of agenda remaining for the Senate in July and early August, and continued infighting among House Republicans further increases legislative uncertainty.
Odaily News: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging that any version of the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act" considered by the Senate retain Section 604 to protect non-custodial blockchain developers who do not control user assets. Ron Wyden stated that developers should not be considered money transmitters simply because they create or publish software that allows users to manage their own digital assets. Coin Center Executive Director Peter Van Valkenburgh, the DeFi Education Fund, and Galaxy Digital Head of Research Alex Thorn have expressed support for this stance. Alex Thorn also noted that supporting developer protections does not mean Ron Wyden will endorse the entire CLARITY Act. Ron Wyden further stated that the provision does not protect developers involved in illegal activities and can direct law enforcement resources toward criminals and unlicensed money transmission businesses, rather than neutral software developers. (Bitcoin.com News).
that, according to sources familiar with the matter, lawmakers could unveil an updated version of the Cryptocurrency Clarity Act as early as next week. The new bill will integrate work from both the Senate Banking Committee and the Senate Agriculture Committee. However, outstanding issues remain, including one of the key demands from Senate Democrats: ethics concerns. Democrats still need to accept the new draft, which would require 60 votes to advance through the Senate. (CoinDesk)
According to Eleanor Terrett, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden wrote to Senate leadership requesting that any version of the Clarity Act submitted for full chamber consideration retain the provisions of the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act already passed by the Senate Banking Committee.
According to CoinDesk, the U.S. Crypto Market Structure Bill Clarity Act failed to be signed within the previously expected timeframe. As Congress approaches its summer recess, pressure is mounting for the bill to be enacted within 2026. However, several observers following the legislative process remain cautiously optimistic about its passage within the year, believing that current key coordination efforts are still ongoing, including the consolidation of content between the Senate Agriculture Committee and Banking Committee versions.
Odaily News: Fox Business crypto reporter posted on X platform, stating that the Major County Sheriffs of America has shifted to a "neutral" stance on the Clarity Act after recent ongoing discussions around parts of Section 604, i.e., the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. In a letter to leaders of the Senate Banking Committee, MCSA stated that based on its continued review of the bill, there remains an opportunity to further strengthen the legislation in a manner that supports responsible innovation and the practical needs of state and local law enforcement.
U.S. President Trump’s newly released 927-page financial disclosure document reveals income including hundreds of millions of dollars in crypto-related earnings. Among these are millions of dollars in revenue linked to World Liberty Financial, the DeFi project launched by the Trump family in 2024. This disclosure has heightened the urgency of congressional negotiations over ethics provisions within the Clarity Act, the crypto market structure bill.Currently, bipartisan lawmakers are negotiating the Clarity Act, which aims to establish the first comprehensive federal crypto regulatory framework in the United States. A key focus of the negotiations is whether to include ethics restrictions preventing the President, Vice President, members of Congress, and other federal officials from profiting from digital assets while in office.Following the document's release, Democratic lawmakers reiterated that the bill must contain strict ethics clauses. Senator Angela Alsobrooks stated that such restrictions should apply to the President, Vice President, and all members of Congress. She noted that ordinary Americans should benefit from digital assets in a fair and honest manner, rather than allowing political figures to profit through corruption and institutional loopholes.Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also indicated that both parties are still advancing stringent ethics reforms, proposing to prohibit the President, Vice President, and lawmakers from using crypto assets for personal gain. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren argued that if the Clarity Act fails to prevent the President, members of Congress, and their families from profiting from the crypto industry, the bill would further fuel controversies surrounding Trump-related crypto corruption.Republicans, for their part, stated that ethics clauses remain part of the bipartisan negotiations. With the July window for advancing the Clarity Act approaching, the disclosure of Trump family crypto income could become a key variable influencing the final text of the bill and the level of Democratic support.
According to the latest report from investment bank Jefferies, the U.S. "Clarity Act," although having passed a bipartisan 15:9 vote in the Senate Banking Committee, still faces significant hurdles in the subsequent legislative process. Political uncertainty may exacerbate crypto market volatility in the coming weeks. The bill aims to clarify the regulatory boundary for digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and is considered a core legislative framework for the U.S. crypto market structure. Jefferies pointed out that passage would significantly boost institutional participation, while delays would prolong regulatory uncertainty.Currently, Polymarket data shows that the probability of the bill passing before the end of 2026 has dropped to 48%, a significant decline from 70% in mid-May, primarily due to disputes over ethical clauses, anti-money-laundering reviews, and a tight Senate agenda. Analysts note that with approximately only 20 legislative days remaining before Congress adjourns in August, it must complete the reconciliation of House and Senate versions, procedural votes, and submission to the President for signature. If it fails to advance before the recess, it may be delayed until next year, or even further postponed due to changes in the election cycle.Jefferies believes that if the bill is enacted, it will drive the expansion of businesses such as tokenized assets, custody, staking, lending, and crypto ETFs, benefiting the development of markets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). However, if delayed, it could suppress institutional investment in on-chain infrastructure and crypto-related IPOs.Additionally, the market expects policy uncertainty to continue affecting the stock performance of crypto-related public companies such as Circle, Coinbase, and Bullish. Jefferies added that even as regulations gradually clarify, intensified competition in the stablecoin space could become a long-term source of pressure for companies like Circle. (CoinDesk)
the core US crypto regulatory bill, the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act" (Clarity Act), has entered a critical two-week negotiation cycle for legislation. The Senate will be in recess until July 13. During the recess, bipartisan staff, the White House, and representatives from the crypto industry will continue to negotiate outstanding differences in the bill, focusing on resolving disputes over topics such as the integration of the two bill versions from the Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, ethics clauses, and anti-money laundering rules.If all parties successfully reach a unified compromise version, the bill could be submitted for a full Senate vote as early as late July to early August. The market generally believes that the period before the August congressional recess is the only window for the bill to be passed this year. If the vote is not completed during this phase, the probability of the bill being enacted into law within 2026 will significantly decrease. (Crypto in America)
the US Senate is attempting to advance the crypto market structure bill, the "Clarity Act," in July. However, with multiple priority agendas piling up, including the National Defense Authorization Act, the Farm Bill reauthorization, and a housing bill, the time window for the bill's passage is narrowing.The Senate's agenda is packed for the coming weeks. In addition to the annual defense and farm bills, Trump stated on Wednesday that he would not support a major housing bill unless Congress first passes legislation requiring proof of citizenship for federal election voters. The housing bill also includes provisions to ban central bank digital currencies.As lawmakers will leave Washington before the August recess, if the relevant bills fail to advance before then, the political focus will shift to the November election upon their return, further reducing the floor time available for crypto legislation.Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis stated that she expects a new version of the text to be released around July 4th for final review by lawmakers, with a vote pushed forward in July. A Senate aide also noted that the "Clarity Act" will become one of the bipartisan priorities when the Senate returns in July.However, the bill still faces multiple uncertainties, including the level of Democratic support, controversy over Trump's crypto-related conflicts of interest, the priority of other major bills, and the Senate's limited agenda scheduling.
According to Crypto in America, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association jointly sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, expressing strong opposition to Section 604 of the “Clarity Act”—the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). Law enforcement groups argue that this provision could create regulatory loopholes exploitable by criminals for illicit activities including drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, sanctions evasion, and terrorist financing. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed candidates achieved sweeping victories in primary elections across Maryland, New York, and Utah. Fairshake—a pro-crypto super PAC—has collectively spent over $7.6 million supporting these candidates, including $5.5 million backing Adrian Boafo, the candidate for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, founder of the Solana Policy Institute, warned that August 7, 2026, may be the final window for Congress to pass cryptocurrency market structure legislation. He stated that the industry is willing to make limited revisions to the BRCA provisions to address law enforcement concerns—but firmly opposes any fundamental changes that would weaken the core protections enshrined in the provision. Additionally, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Payments” the same day.
Nearly 100 Catholic leaders representing church groups across the United States have sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, opposing certain provisions of the cryptocurrency market structure bill, the "Clarity Act," currently under discussion. They argue that it could weaken regulatory capabilities to combat illegal financial activities related to human trafficking.The Alliance to End Human Trafficking, supported by Catholic organizations, stated that a specific clause in the bill could make it more difficult for regulators to oversee illicit financial flows linked to human trafficking and other crimes.The letter states that the Catholic Church has long advocated that economic systems and markets should ultimately serve people, especially the poor, the vulnerable, and those most susceptible to exploitation. The organization stated that while it recognizes the potential of emerging financial technologies and supports responsible innovation, innovation should not come at the expense of human dignity and public accountability.