Senate Majority Leader John Thune has confirmed that the CLARITY Act will not be put to a vote before the August recess, pushing the bill’s official voting schedule back to September 2026. The delay is marked by irony: Thune did not file a cloture motion for the CLARITY Act, even though he passed similar motions for federal spending, various nominations, and college sports regulations.
News of the delayed schedule immediately crushed public expectations. On the Polymarket prediction market, the probability of the CLARITY Act being signed into law in 2026 plummeted to 17%, a sharp drop from above 70% before the recess neared. The X account @WatcherGuru also released a report stating that the Senate officially failed to pass the crypto legislation before the summer break.
The delay in passage risks shaking the market. Research firm Bernstein previously warned that a failed vote could trigger a sell-off of crypto assets. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan also projected that price movements could waver temporarily due to the delay, though he remains confident that a recovery will occur heading into the fall.
60-Vote Requirement and 11-Month Deadlock
On paper, passing this regulation is no easy task. The Senate requires 60 cloture votes to pass a bill. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, meaning they absolutely need the support of at least seven Democratic senators.
Securing these bipartisan votes has proven difficult. Senator Lummis revealed that the negotiations, which have been ongoing for 11 months, are not yet fully complete. As the recess arrived, several points of discussion remained at a standstill. The intense debate centers on ethical limits for elected officials and their families, protection from illicit finance practices, stablecoin yields, and guarantees for noncustodial wallet developers.
Resistance from within the Senate also remains strong. Senator Elizabeth Warren reaffirmed her support for crypto regulation, but she rejected the current draft of the CLARITY Act. This opposition is based on concerns over potential political conflicts, weak consumer protection, and issues concerning national security.
Narrow September Window
Postponing the vote to September places an additional burden on the fate of this regulation. The legislative calendar is sure to be crowded, while political pressure will continue to mount as the midterm elections draw closer. This situation creates a narrow window of discussion for a document that still has many points of friction between factions.
The planned passage is now racing against time and the national political agenda. If negotiations fail to reach an agreement within the narrow gap in September, the industry must prepare for price volatility without the certainty of a new legal framework from the United States.
Reported by crypto.news.
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.
