CLARITY Act Vote Hinges on Bipartisan Support and Ethics Language Concessions

Coinbase's policy chief Faryar Shirzad believes that the CLARITY Act has two possible outcomes as the Senate prepares for its September 15 procedural vote. The bill could either fall short of the necessary 60 votes or receive unexpected bipartisan support to pass the threshold, he said in a recent conversation with industry advocate Scott Melker.

The crypto industry has been working towards building bipartisan support for comprehensive regulation over the years, and Shirzad expects that this effort will be put to the test during the upcoming vote. The CLARITY Act aims to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets, which is crucial for the growth of the sector.

Shirzad noted that it's unlikely that all 53 Senate Republicans will support the motion to proceed, and each Republican defection would increase the number of Democratic votes needed to clear the 60-vote cloture threshold. He also mentioned that several remaining disputes, including provisions concerning decentralized finance and exchange rules, are expected to be resolved before the vote.

The larger risk involves ethics language concerning President Donald Trump's crypto interests, which Senate Democrats have criticized as insufficient while Republicans argue that it contains meaningful safeguards. Shirzad believes that a late bipartisan shift could provide enough support to clear the threshold, but this would require concessions from both parties.