Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pressed the Senate to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, known as the CLARITY Act, ahead of a scheduled procedural vote Tuesday. In a statement, Bessent urged lawmakers to continue negotiations and support the motion to proceed, framing the legislation as essential to federal oversight and national security.
Bessent linked the measure to combating illicit cryptocurrency activity and maintaining U.S. leadership in digital asset regulation. He warned that failing to advance the legislation "would send a troubling signal to our allies and adversaries alike that America is unwilling to lead on the future of digital assets and willing to forgo enhanced national security tools to combat their misuse."
White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt also called on senators from both parties to support the procedural step, stating that a vote to proceed would allow the legislative process to continue.
What Tuesday's Vote Means
Tuesday's action determines whether the Senate can move toward formal consideration of the bill, not whether it becomes law. The motion to proceed requires 60 votes. Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, meaning supporters need at least seven non-Republican votes if every Republican backs the motion.
The CLARITY Act has already passed the House and advanced through the Senate Banking Committee, which approved it in May by a 15-9 vote with Republican and Democratic support.
Unresolved Disagreements
Senate Republicans released revised language on September 10 seeking to close negotiating gaps over ethics provisions involving presidents and immediate family members with digital asset businesses. The changes address decentralized finance registration, credit union authority, and limits on spot or cash digital commodity transactions, but have not yet produced enough public commitments to confirm the measure can reach 60 votes.
Proposed Regulatory Framework
If enacted, the CLARITY Act would establish federal registration paths for digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers. The measure would impose disclosure, customer asset protection, and recordkeeping requirements on digital asset intermediaries. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based assets classified as commodities would fall under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight, while securities regulators would retain authority over assets classified as securities.
