Ripple's Garlinghouse voices support for Treasury Secretary Bessent's case for the bill as lawmakers finalize the crypto market structure legislation.
The CLARITY Act is approaching a decisive moment in the Senate, with lawmakers finalizing the text of a bill designed to clarify how digital assets are regulated in the United States. Reporting this week points to last-minute changes in the legislation as it nears a floor vote.
The bill has been a central focus of the crypto industry’s lobbying efforts for more than a year. Its stated goal is to draw clearer lines between the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over digital assets. Supporters argue that ambiguity between the two regulators has left exchanges, token issuers, and investors without consistent rules.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has weighed in publicly, aligning himself with arguments made by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in favor of the bill. Garlinghouse’s company has long argued that unclear market structure rules have pushed crypto business activity outside the United States. His endorsement adds a prominent industry voice to the push for passage.
Not all lawmakers are on board. Some Democratic senators are reportedly pushing back on elements of the bill before the vote takes place. The nature of the objections was not fully detailed, but resistance from within the party suggests the legislation could still face changes or delays before reaching the floor.
The CLARITY Act previously passed the House of Representatives, making Senate action the next major hurdle for the bill to become law. A Senate vote would mark a significant step toward comprehensive federal market structure rules for digital assets, something the industry has sought since at least the collapse of several major crypto platforms in recent years.
The legislative process for major financial regulation bills often includes revisions right up until a vote, and the CLARITY Act appears to be following that pattern. Coverage of the bill’s final version indicates it reflects the latest round of negotiations among lawmakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders. The precise contents of those changes have not been fully disclosed publicly at this stage.
Sources disagree on this story
This article was published before the reports below were compared. The reporting above stands; what follows is where the published accounts do not agree.
Ahead of the Sept. 15 Senate cloture vote on the CLARITY Act, one outlet forecast likely passage while several others, reporting after the vote, say it failed.
What all sources agree on
- Senate Republicans released a final draft of the CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633) on Sept. 14, and a cloture vote on the motion to proceed was scheduled for 2:15 p.m. EDT on Sept. 15, requiring 60 votes.
- The final draft revised ethics restrictions on federal officials' and their spouses' digital asset holdings.
- The final draft created a stablecoin/community-bank provision giving the Treasury secretary conditional authority tied to a deposit-flight finding.
- Republican sponsors described the final bill as incorporating more than 100 (specified by some as 126) changes requested by Democrats.
Where the reports disagree
1Whether the Senate would/did pass the cloture vote
Given that many of the points of contestation have been addressed, there is a high chance that the Senate will vote in favor of the CLARITY Act.
Senators on Tuesday voted to block the Clarity Act from moving forward, setting back efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the crypto industry.
After a forceful final appeal from Sen. Cynthia Lummis, the CLARITY Act failed to win the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate on September 15.
The Clarity Act has failed to advance in the Senate after accruing less than 60 votes.
Senator Bill Hagerty expressed his disappointment today over the Senate Democrats' refusal to bring the Clarity Act to a final vote.
The Senate's failure to advance the CLARITY Act today raises significant concerns for the future of crypto regulation.
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday rejected a procedural motion to advance a major cryptocurrency market structure bill, falling short of the threshold required to bring the legislation to a final vote.
What would settle it: The official Senate roll-call record for the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3633 on Sept. 15, 2026.
What to make of it
Treat the bill's contents and the scheduling of a Sept. 15 cloture vote as established across sources; the pre-vote forecast of likely passage and the post-vote reports of failure cannot both describe the same outcome, so only the official Senate roll call resolves which is accurate.
Market Impact
Passage of the CLARITY Act could remove a long-standing source of uncertainty for crypto exchanges, token issuers, and institutional investors operating in the United States. Clearer jurisdictional lines between the SEC and CFTC have been cited by industry participants as a prerequisite for broader institutional adoption of digital assets.
Any delay or substantive amendment resulting from Democratic objections could extend the period of regulatory ambiguity that has shaped crypto market behavior in recent years. Market participants are likely to watch the Senate vote closely, given the bill's potential to influence where crypto firms choose to operate and how they structure compliance going forward.
With the Senate vote approaching, the CLARITY Act's final language and the outcome of Democratic objections will determine whether the United States moves closer to a unified regulatory framework for digital assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CLARITY Act?
It is proposed federal legislation intended to define regulatory jurisdiction over digital assets, primarily by clarifying the roles of the SEC and CFTC.
Who has publicly supported the bill ahead of the Senate vote?
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed support, aligning with arguments made by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in favor of the legislation.
Why are some Democrats opposing the bill?
Reports indicate pushback from some Democratic senators before the vote, though the specific details of their objections have not been fully disclosed.
Has the CLARITY Act already passed one chamber of Congress?
Yes, the bill previously passed the House of Representatives, and it is now awaiting action in the Senate.
