CLARITY Act Explained: Timeline, Impact and What Comes Next
US crypto regulation is back in focus.
According to media reports, the White House is expected to meet with executives from crypto, prediction market and traditional finance companies on August 19, 2026. CoinDesk, citing unnamed sources, reported that President Donald Trump is expected to attend. As of August 18, however, the White House had not officially confirmed his attendance.
The meeting matters because the CLARITY Act could reshape how the US regulates crypto. Here is a beginner-friendly guide to what the bill does, why it matters and where it stands.
What Is the CLARITY Act?
The CLARITY Act is short for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, or H.R. 3633.
Its main goal is to clarify which digital assets and activities fall under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and which fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
In simple terms:
Digital asset securities would generally remain under the SEC.
Digital commodities and their trading markets would generally fall under the CFTC.
Exchanges, brokers and dealers covered by the bill would face registration, disclosure, recordkeeping and customer asset protection requirements.
This does not mean every cryptocurrency would automatically be regulated by the CFTC. The treatment of an asset could still depend on how it was issued and used, as well as the final wording of the law.
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Why Is CLARITY Act Important?
Today, US crypto companies often face uncertainty over which regulator and rules apply. The CLARITY Act attempts to replace some of that uncertainty with a clearer legal framework.
If passed, it could make registration requirements easier to understand, set clearer standards for customer asset segregation and disclosures, and define how the SEC and CFTC divide oversight.
A law passed by Congress would also be harder to change than an agency policy. That could give market participants a more stable framework for long-term planning.
Would the Bill Take Effect Immediately?
No. The House has passed its version, but the Senate has not passed a final bill.
If the Senate approves different language, both chambers must agree on the same text before it goes to the president. The SEC and CFTC would then need to write detailed rules, and affected companies would need time to comply.
CLARITY Act Timeline
Date | What happened | Why it matters |
May 29, 2025 | H.R. 3633 was introduced in the House. | The formal legislative process began. |
June 23, 2025 | The House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees filed amended reports. | The bill completed key House committee work. |
July 17, 2025 | The House passed the bill 294–134. | Bipartisan support sent it to the Senate. |
September 18, 2025 | The Senate received the bill and referred it to the Banking Committee. | Senate review formally began. |
January 14, 2026 | Coinbase withdrew its support for the draft. | Its concerns included stablecoin rewards, DeFi, tokenized equities and CFTC authority. |
January 15, 2026 | The Senate Banking Committee postponed its markup. | Lawmakers returned to negotiations. |
May 12, 2026 | The Senate Banking Committee released updated text. | The revised proposal restarted committee action. |
May 14, 2026 | The committee advanced the bill 15–9. | The bill became eligible for further Senate consideration, although bipartisan support remained limited. |
July 22, 2026 | Senator Cynthia Lummis released text combining work from the Banking and Agriculture Committees. | The update attempted to align the Senate’s two main jurisdictions. |
August 8, 2026 | The Senate began its summer recess without a floor vote. | Further action was pushed until at least September. |
August 19, 2026 | The White House is expected to host industry executives. | This is a policy discussion, not a congressional vote. Trump’s attendance remains unconfirmed. |
August 20, 2026 | The CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting. | Crypto, prediction markets, AI and market structure are on the agenda. |
As of August 18, 2026 | The Senate has not held a final floor vote. | The CLARITY Act is not law, and its text may still change. |
Why Has CLARITY Act Stalled?
The biggest disagreements are not about whether rules are needed, but what those rules should say.
Banks and crypto companies disagree over stablecoin rewards. Lawmakers are also debating how DeFi developers should be treated, how much authority the CFTC should receive, and whether ethics provisions should address crypto interests linked to the Trump family.
The bill also needs enough Senate support to move forward. Committee approval does not guarantee a floor vote or final passage.
What Happens Next?
The August 19 White House meeting and the August 20 CFTC meeting may show where the administration and industry are finding common ground. The more important signal, however, will be whether Senate leaders schedule a vote and reach compromises on stablecoins, DeFi, investor protection and ethics rules.
If the Senate passes an amended version, the House must accept it or negotiate a final text. Until then, the CLARITY Act remains a proposal rather than a finished US crypto rulebook.
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