Senate GOP Seeks July Vote on CLARITY Act

Senate Republican leaders are pressing to hold a floor vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act in July, aiming to act before the Senate’s monthlong August recess. The bill requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster; Republicans hold 53 seats, so at least seven Democrats would need to support it.

The CLARITY Act would divide oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Supporters say the change would create a disclosure framework for digital assets and reduce legal uncertainty for developers and firms operating in the United States.

“When the Clarity Act becomes law, for the first time, there will be a consumer-friendly disclosure framework for digital assets. Not retrofitted from 1933. Built for 2026 and beyond,” Lummis argued, adding that developers should not need “an army of lawyers” to know whether their code is legal.

The Senate Banking Committee advanced the 309-page bill in May on a 15-9 vote. Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott and Majority Leader John Thune have identified a roughly four-week window from July 13 to Aug. 7 to bring the measure to the floor. Thune has indicated he wants the week of July 13 reserved for the National Defense Authorization Act, which could delay CLARITY consideration into late July or early August.

Full Republican backing is not assured. Senators who opposed earlier stablecoin legislation, including Josh Hawley and Rand Paul, could withhold support. Analysts say the Senate needs to act before the recess for the legislation to have a realistic chance this year. Galaxy Research cut its estimate of passage in 2026 to 50%, citing a compressed pre-recess calendar and procedural uncertainty.

The bill has drawn extensive lobbying. More than 1,200 technology companies urged the Senate to move quickly, saying U.S. firms face regulatory uncertainty as other jurisdictions adopt digital-asset rules. The White House has invited law enforcement groups to discuss concerns about the bill ahead of any floor vote. Senator Elizabeth Warren warned the 309-page measure would be damaging to the economy and opposed advancing it.

If the Senate can vote in late July and approve CLARITY, the measure would move toward reconciliation with the House version of digital-asset legislation before any presidential action. If the Senate misses the August recess deadline, lawmakers’ next realistic opportunity to set federal market-structure rules for digital assets could shift into 2027.