CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate Amid Disagreements and Lobbying
The CLARITY Act, a cryptocurrency market structure legislation, failed to advance in the Senate after a procedural vote on September 15.
The bill, which aims to provide clear rules for the crypto industry, stalled due to several issues, including disagreements over DeFi, tokenization, CFTC authority, stablecoin yields, and enforcement and ethics.
Key officials, including Sen. Thom Tillis, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, and SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, are leaving their positions, which may affect the bill's progress.
Despite the setback, stakeholders are not giving up. The crypto industry spent over $13 million on lobbying in the first half of 2026, with Coinbase and Kraken being among the top spenders.
The next steps for the CLARITY Act are unclear, but possible paths include a lame-duck revival after the midterm elections, agency rules, or a revised bill taken up by the next Congress.