CLARITY Act Update for XRP Holders: Senator Drops Major Confirmation

The U.S. Senate will not vote on the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune. The development confirms that one of the most closely watched pieces of U.S. crypto legislation will have to wait until September for further floor action.

Crypto enthusiast Amelie highlighted the development in a post on X, explaining that Thune had confirmed the Senate would return to the CLARITY Act after the August recess. She also referenced Thune’s earlier remarks about Congress passing its first major crypto legislation and continuing its work on digital asset regulation.

Thune confirmed on August 6 that the CLARITY Act would be queued up when senators return. The decision came after lawmakers failed to secure enough support to move the legislation through the Senate before the recess. The bill requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, while Republicans hold 53 seats, making Democratic support necessary for passage through the chamber.

Ethics Dispute Remains a Major Obstacle

The delay follows weeks of negotiations over provisions within the bill, particularly its ethics requirements. Senate Democrats have sought stronger restrictions on federal officials engaging in digital-asset activities while serving in office.

The dispute has centered partly on restrictions involving President Donald Trump and other public officials, with Democrats arguing that the proposed provisions do not go far enough. The latest draft includes restrictions on public officials and their spouses issuing or sponsoring digital assets while in office. But disagreements over the scope and enforcement of those provisions have continued.

The Senate also faced limited floor time before the recess, with other legislative priorities, nominations and government funding matters competing for consideration. Thune’s decision therefore moves the CLARITY Act into a significantly shorter legislative window when lawmakers return in September.

Why the CLARITY Act Matters

The CLARITY Act seeks to establish a federal regulatory structure for digital assets and provide greater clarity over the respective roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Its provisions also address areas including decentralized finance, stablecoins, digital-asset custody and protections for certain software developers and network participants.

Supporters view the legislation as an important step toward establishing clearer rules for the U.S. digital-asset industry. However, the bill still faces negotiations in the Senate and would need to clear the House again if the Senate approves changes to the legislation.

Thune Points to Previous Crypto Legislation

Amelie’s reference to Thune’s statement about Congress having already passed a major crypto bill points to the GENIUS Act, which became law in July 2025.

The legislation established a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins and marked a significant step in Congress’s digital-asset policy efforts. Thune described it at the time as the first major digital-assets bill in American history. The CLARITY Act now represents the next major stage of that legislative effort.