Senate Drops Crypto Ethics Rule Amid Family Business Loophole Debate
The CLARITY Act, aimed at regulating crypto markets and establishing who regulates them under what rules, failed to advance in the Senate on September 15. Although it didn't become law, the final draft of the bill reveals an interesting aspect of crypto ethics rules.
Under the proposed rule, senior federal officials holding at least $15,000 in equity interests in businesses that issue or sponsor digital assets would have had to sell their interest or place it into a qualified blind trust. Their spouses would also face this restriction, but adult children wouldn't.
This distinction was one of the reasons several Democrats withheld support for the bill. The concern is illustrated by President Donald Trump's family situation: his latest certified financial disclosure showed over $1.4 billion in 2025 income from crypto ventures, mostly connected to World Liberty Financial and the Trump meme coin business.
The rule would have applied to Trump himself and his spouse but not automatically to his adult children, who own and manage his private interests.