CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate as Crypto Regulation Deadline Looms

The CLARITY Act, aimed at setting the foundation for US crypto market-structure rules, has faced numerous delays and challenges. In July 2025, it passed the House with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 294-134.

However, negotiations over DeFi oversight, stablecoins, ethics provisions, and enforcement powers have stalled its progress in the Senate. The bill's timeline has been repeatedly pushed back, from January to September 2026.

In May 2026, the Senate Banking Committee finally approved CLARITY with a vote of 15-9, but committee approval was not enough to guarantee passage on the Senate floor.

Senator Cynthia Lummis warned that another major delay could push comprehensive crypto legislation much further out. She argued that Republicans could have pushed the bill through on their own votes but deliberately chose not to, citing the importance of bipartisan support.