The crypto industry’s top legislative priority, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, doesn’t appear to be high on the Senate’s to-do list, even as what many see as its best window for passing this year inches to a close.

Majority Leader John Thune is steering floor time toward federal nominations, government funding and a Russia sanctions bill with recess less than two weeks away, according to multiple reports.

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Majority Leader John Thune began pushing a package of nominees Monday and is expected to move to the Russia bill Tuesday night. Because Senate procedure generally limits the chamber to one disputed bill at a time, Clarity is unlikely to reach a vote until the other measures clear. The chamber’s attention this week is also consumed by the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, the recently deceased lawmaker to whom the Russia bill is now dedicated.

The developments suggest a Clarity vote isn’t likely before next week, the final days before the Aug. 8 recess, which could push the bill’s next opening to September. Every added delay raises the risk that the measure fails to become law this year, leaving the crypto industry to lean on the GENIUS Act‘s stablecoin framework and rulemaking at the SEC and CFTC for regulatory footing.

Among the bill’s hardest knots is an ethics provision barring senior government officials, including President Donald Trump, from backing crypto projects. Last week Trump agreed to accept a version of the provision, proposing a ban through Jan. 20, 2029 and handing enforcement to the Department of Justice, but Democrats say it is not sufficient. Both sides agreed to keep negotiating.

The House passed its own version of the bill last year and the measure cleared the Senate Banking Committee in a 15-9 vote in May after lawmakers resolved a long fight over stablecoin yield with a compromise limiting stablecoin rewards to activity-based programs. Even if the Senate passes Clarity, it must return to the House, before reaching Trump’s desk.

AI-assisted content: This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and was reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by a member of the Unchained editorial team before publication.

Clarity Act on the Back Burner as Nominations, Government Funding, Russia Sanctions Take Priority

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