Melker Bengtsson
TL;DR
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The U.S. Senate leaves for August recess without a vote on the CLARITY Act; Thune says it's queued for September.
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The core unresolved issue is the ethics provision: whether jurisdiction sits with the DOJ or state attorneys general.
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The Senate returns September 14th with roughly three weeks of floor time before Senators leave to campaign for midterms.
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Progress on GENIUS was similar: a failed cloture vote, then passage 68-30 just weeks later.
The U.S. Senate will leave for August recess without a vote on the CLARITY Act. The crypto market structure bill would cleanly split oversight between the SEC and the CFTC, a clarification the U.S. market is screaming for. Republican Senator, John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, announced via a spokesperson on X:
.@LeaderJohnThune announces Clarity will be on the floor in September:
— Stacey Daniels (@staceydanielsDC) August 7, 2026
“The Dems are insistent on no Clarity vote... I worked with sponsors of the bill. @SenLummis was great, and we’re getting that queued up first thing when we come back.”
Roughly three weeks of floor time
When the Senate returns on September 14th, they’ve got roughly three weeks of floor time before Senators leave to campaign for the November midterm elections.
It’s been reported that the vote needed to happen before the August recess, since the floor is crowded with appropriations deadlines and a possible government shutdown fight. However, Thune says the bill will be queued up as soon as they get back from recess.
The core issue yet to be resolved is in the ethics provision. The current draft puts the jurisdiction with the Department of Justice but Democrats fear that a White House appointed official wouldn’t prosecute. Republicans, meanwhile, fear that giving these powers to state attorneys general would open President Trump up to frivolous, politically motivated suits. A compromise that’s been suggested would give state AGs the power to sue the DOJ if they fail to do their job.
Industry on record with resolve
Industry figures have gone on record with resolve since the vote was postponed. Cody Carbone, CEO of crypto trade group Digital Chamber said via X:
It’s ok to be disappointed. But the process continues.
— Cody Carbone (@CodyCarboneDC) August 7, 2026
Filing the Clarity Act on the Senate Calendar before leaving town tees the bill up for September votes.
We will not stop our advocacy as long as this bill remains alive. The work continues.
There’s some hope yet. Progress on GENIUS was similar, with a failed cloture vote and that passed 68-30 just weeks later. The biggest issue right now is the timing: will there be time on the floor before the Senate leaves to campaign for midterm elections?
