Senate Blocks CLARITY Act, Crypto Regulation Uncertainty Looms
The CLARITY Act, a comprehensive market-structure bill aimed at settling a long-running fight in U.S. crypto policy, has stalled after being blocked by the Senate on September 15, 2026.
The bill sought to split authority between the SEC and CFTC by asset type, classifying tokens as commodities or securities. It also proposed permitting various crypto activities for U.S. banks and credit unions, including underwriting and dealing.
The Senate vote fell short of a majority with 49 votes against invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3633. The bill needed 60 votes to advance.
An inability to reach consensus on ethics provisions tied to President Trump's crypto holdings and ventures, as well as Republican defections over stablecoin reward rules, contributed to the bill's downfall.