White House 'Fully Committed' to Passing CLARITY Act in September, Crypto Advisor Says

 

Aug 11, 2026 – The Trump administration remains "fully committed" to passing the CLARITY Act in September, according to White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt, even as the bill's chances of becoming law this year have dropped to just 19% on prediction markets .

Witt, Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, confirmed the administration's stance in comments posted on X on August 11, saying that "durable rules, the kind only legislation can provide, are needed now more than ever" .

"Every time Democrats have delayed this bill, America has fallen further behind in the digital asset race. This has jeopardized our leadership role in global financial markets, weakening our national security, and denying law enforcement the tools they need to stop crypto crime."

— Patrick Witt, Executive Director, President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets 

 

September 15: The Cloture Showdown

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) filed a cloture motion on August 8, setting up a key procedural vote for September 15 at 2:15 PM ET, when the Senate returns from its five-week August recess .

What's at stake: The cloture motion requires 60 votes to advance the bill and overcome a Democratic filibuster. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, meaning they need support from at least seven Democrats to proceed .

The bill has already passed the House and cleared the Senate Banking Committee 15-9 in May, but it has stalled in the full Senate over disagreements on developer liability, ethics provisions, and stablecoin regulations .

 

What's in the CLARITY Act

The CLARITY Act would establish a comprehensive federal framework for digital assets, ending the "regulation by enforcement" approach that has dominated U.S. crypto policy .

Key provisions include:

• Clear classification of digital assets as securities, commodities, or payment stablecoins
• Protections for non-custodial software developers and blockchain infrastructure providers
• Bankruptcy remoteness provisions to protect customer assets if an exchange fails
• Ethics rules for federal officials involved in crypto
• Increased funding for law enforcement to investigate crypto-related crime 

 

Why Passage Is Uncertain

Despite the administration's push, analysts have reduced their expectations for passage:

• Polymarket traders now price a 19% chance that the CLARITY Act becomes law in 2026 — down from above 50% during much of the spring 
• TD Cowen Washington Research Group analyst Jaret Seiberg assigns a 25% probability of enactment this fall 

Two disputes remain unresolved ahead of the September vote :

1. Ethics provisions: Democratic senators have demanded stricter ethics rules targeting Trump-linked crypto interests
2. Stablecoin rewards: Banking industry groups have pushed back against provisions that could allow companies to pay rewards to stablecoin holders, arguing it could pull deposits away from community banks

Developer liability has also been a flashpoint. A revised proposal backed by law enforcement and key Democrats would make it easier to prosecute crypto software developers, but the White House dismissed the latest version as "not even close" to meeting its expectations .

 

What Delay Means for Crypto

The delay extends uncertainty for crypto exchanges, token issuers, and investors who have been waiting for clearer federal rules governing digital assets .

Grayscale Research Director Zach Pandl said the CLARITY Act now seems unlikely to pass Congress this year, noting that the Senate's busy schedule and election-year politics make it difficult to reach a bipartisan agreement .

However, Pandl noted that failure of the bill "will not directly impact the demand for Bitcoin as a store of value, the functioning of major blockchains, or the growth in stablecoin payments in the short term" .

Industry voices remain optimistic: Cody Carbone, CEO of crypto trade group Digital Chamber, said: "While this isn't the result any of us hoped for when we began the week, the fight is far from over. The next few weeks, we will continue to work to find the last pieces of common ground needed to set up a successful vote when Congress returns in September" .

 

What Happens Next

If the cloture vote succeeds on September 15, the bill moves toward a final passage vote. If it fails, the CLARITY Act may not get another chance in 2026.

Federal regulators are moving on separate crypto rules in the meantime. The SEC will hold an open meeting on August 14 to consider a proposal for a tailored offering regime covering certain investment contracts involving crypto assets .

The regulatory track does not replace the CLARITY Act, which would set broader market structure rules through legislation. But the SEC's August meeting shows that federal agencies are preparing to act while Congress works through the outstanding disputes .

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