President Donald Trump met with advisers on September 11 to discuss ethics provisions tied to the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. The meeting preceded the Senate's scheduled procedural vote on the crypto market structure bill.
The Senate will hold a cloture vote on September 15 at 2:15 p.m. ET on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3633. A successful vote would open the bill to debate and amendments but would not constitute final passage. The cloture motion generally requires 60 votes in the 100-member Senate. Republicans hold 53 seats, meaning Democratic or independent support would be necessary if Republicans remain united.
Ethics Provisions Remain Disputed
Ethics rules have emerged as a central sticking point in negotiations. Democrats have sought stronger restrictions on digital asset activity by federal officials and their families, targeting restrictions on issuing, sponsoring, or profiting from certain crypto businesses. Republicans and the White House have supported narrower language.
White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt stated that the administration had accepted an ethics provision restricting federal officials from issuing or sponsoring digital assets. Witt indicated that discussions with Senators Thom Tillis and Ruben Gallego were continuing. The outcome of Trump's September 11 meeting was not disclosed publicly.
Revised Draft Addresses DeFi and Credit Union Rules
Senator Cynthia Lummis released a revised draft on September 10 incorporating more than 100 changes. The updated text includes new requirements for certain non-decentralized trading protocols to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and narrows some DeFi rules to spot and cash digital commodity transactions. The draft also provides credit unions clearer authority for digital asset services.
Despite these revisions, significant disputes remain unresolved, including ethics rules, stablecoin rewards, and anti-money laundering requirements. As of September 13, enough Democratic senators had not publicly committed to guarantee cloture success.
The CLARITY Act would establish a federal framework for digital asset markets, dividing responsibilities between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The House passed its version in July 2025, and the Senate is considering revised text. Negotiations over disputed provisions can continue if the September 15 motion receives sufficient support.
