Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed that the United States Senate will not hold the vote on the CLARITY Act before the August recess. The postponement occurred because the Democratic camp rejected this month’s schedule. “The Dems are insistent on no Clarity vote,” Thune said. This news immediately hit market sentiment, causing the bill’s chances of being passed in 2026 to plunge sharply to 15% on the prediction platform Polymarket.
The voting schedule has now shifted to September, right when lawmakers are scheduled to return to work on Sept. 14. This new timeline narrows the chances of passage as the Senate has only three weeks remaining on its legislative calendar. This is despite Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott previously stating that the vote must still take place before the recess “without question.” However, given the current political dynamics, Thune is likely only able to file for cloture before the recess begins - a purely procedural step that does not replace the final vote.
The Challenging 60-Vote Requirement
The CLARITY Act was originally designed to resolve the issue of jurisdictional division by establishing a clear boundary between the SEC and the CFTC in overseeing the digital asset class. However, the path of this regulation has once again hit a political wall. To pass, the bill requires support from at least 60 Senate votes. So far, it remains unclear whether the proponents of the CLARITY Act have even managed to secure the initial 50 votes.
Opposition comes from both sides. Democrats are pushing for the inclusion of stricter rules regarding crypto profits obtained by politicians, following the disclosure that Donald Trump earned over $1 billion from the digital asset business throughout 2025. On the other hand, several Republican senators have also openly refused to support the bill. This deadlock has forced Thune to push the voting schedule to next month.
Altcoin Prices Respond Immediately
The effects of this delay immediately spread to the global crypto market. Analysts from the research firm Bernstein warned that the failure of the CLARITY Act could trigger a decline in crypto asset valuations. This warning aligns with the initial market reaction this week.
XRP dropped 5.5% over the past week as a direct impact of this delay, making it the worst-performing major cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin appeared more resilient, holding at $64,300 and moving sideways throughout the week.
For investors waiting for certainty, this Washington tug-of-war is proof that regulation will not be binding anytime soon. As long as politicians remain in disagreement, the market is forced to bear the burden of volatility without a clear legal framework.
Sourced from Cointelegraph.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
