REGULATION

Senate Leaders Push July CLARITY Vote

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Senate crypto leaders are pressing for a July floor vote on the CLARITY Act as lawmakers try to move the market structure bill before Congress leaves for its August recess.

Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott said the chamber should vote on crypto market structure legislation in July, while supporters continue talks over unresolved ethics, DeFi and stablecoin provisions.

May 14 Vote Sent Bill to Senate Floor

The Senate Banking Committee advanced H.R. 3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, on May 14 in a 15-9 vote. The bill now sits before the full Senate.

It would set rules for digital asset markets and split oversight between the SEC and CFTC, giving the CFTC a larger role over crypto commodities and certain spot-market activity.

July Calendar Narrows Floor Window

The Senate returns from the July 4 recess on July 13, leaving lawmakers with a short window before the August break. The July calendar is already crowded by defense legislation and the recess deadline.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pointed to the National Defense Authorization Act as a priority for the week lawmakers return, which could push crypto market structure debate into late July.

60 Votes Require Democratic Support

The bill needs 60 votes in the Senate. Republicans hold 53 seats, so sponsors still need Democratic support even if every Republican backs the measure. That support is not locked in.

Two Democrats joined Banking Committee Republicans to advance the bill, but Democratic senators have continued to raise concerns over anti-money laundering language, political conflicts tied to crypto holdings and parts of the DeFi safe harbor.

Stablecoin Rewards Remain Unresolved

Stablecoin rewards remain one of the pressure points. Banking groups want tighter limits on rewards, arguing they could pull deposits away from insured banks.

Crypto firms say the bill is needed to move digital assets out of regulatory uncertainty and into a clearer federal regime.

The dispute now sits alongside talks over government ethics rules and law enforcement access to on-chain investigations.

House Deal Still Needed After Senate Vote

The House passed its version of the CLARITY Act in July 2025, but the Senate text has moved through a separate negotiation process.

If the bill clears the Senate, lawmakers would still need to resolve any differences before sending final text to President Donald Trump. July remains the next opening for Senate action before the August recess.

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