Trump Pushes CLARITY Act As Crypto Leaders Call For Regulation

By Bena Ilyas | Edited By Sahana Kiran,August 20, 2026, 12:45 PM

US President Donald Trump renewed his push for the CLARITY Act on Wednesday, urging Congress to approve a “fair version” of the cryptocurrency market structure bill. At the White House speech where representatives of the cryptocurrency business and regulators were present, Trump argued that clearer regulations would maintain the leadership of the United States in relation to China worldwide.

The federal framework for the regulation of digital assets would be created, clearly defining the responsibilities of the SEC and CFTC. In July 2025, the draft of the bill was approved in the House of Representatives, but the Senate failed to negotiate because of disputes such as the regulation of tokenized equities, reward schemes of stablecoins, illegal financing issues, and ethics problems.

Nowadays, the Senate is in its August recess, but John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, will schedule the procedural vote for September 15. Cloture requires 60 votes, it needs some democratic support. The CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, said that this draft could gather more than 60 votes and characterized the draft as critical for the development of the industry.

Also Read | Cuomo Urges Congress to Pass CLARITY Act Ahead of Senate Vote

Political Pressure Builds Around CLARITY Act

Donald Trump’s support is coming in the middle of the debate about potential conflict of interest, as the family of Trump has many crypto projects. Reuters writes that in 2025, Trump’s crypto ventures brought him more than $1.4 billion. Democrats demand the adoption of stricter ethical guarantees. As Ruben Gallego argues, Congress, not the President, should decide about the necessary restrictions.

The White House meeting underscored how influential the crypto industry has become in Washington. Executives from Coinbase, Ripple, Robinhood, Kraken and other firms have pressed lawmakers for rules, while industry groups and political committees have spent heavily on advocacy. The outcome could affect exchanges, token issuers, investors and blockchain developers.

Regulators Move Ahead Without Congress

Regulatory agencies are not waiting for lawmakers. The SEC has advanced proposals involving crypto token offerings and potential safe-harbor treatment, while the CFTC is using its Innovation Advisory Committee to examine technology, markets and digital-asset policy. Those initiatives could provide interim clarity act but would not replace a comprehensive congressional framework.

For markets, the political push has significance. Bitcoin rose above $68,000 on Wednesday, while Coinbase, Strategy and Circle shares also gained as investors responded to regulatory optimism. The next major test comes September 15, when the Senate returns and faces the 60-vote threshold. Until then, negotiations over the CLARITY Act, ethics provisions and regulatory responsibilities will remain central to the US crypto policy debate. 

Also Read | CLARITY Act Approval Chances Fall Sharply Ahead of Senate Return