CLARITY Act Explained: What the Senate’s 15-9 Vote Means for Bitcoin, Exchanges, and Stablecoins

The US Senate Banking Committee has taken a major step toward establishing a comprehensive regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies with a 15-9 bipartisan vote to approve the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (CLARITY Act). The bill seeks to resolve the uncertainty around digital assets by establishing a clear regulatory framework that assigns the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to the different regulatory responsibilities.

Introduced in May 2025 by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, the bill passed the US House of Representatives on July 17, 2025, with a bipartisan vote of 294 to 134.

It would be the first full framework of US legislation for cryptocurrencies, exchanges, stablecoins, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

SEC and CFTC to Share Crypto Oversight

The CLARITY Act establishes a two-tier regulatory framework, with its classifications of digital assets depending on their attributes. The SEC would have authority over tokens that meet its definition of an “investment contract,” while the CFTC would have jurisdiction over sufficiently decentralized tokens, for example, Bitcoin and perhaps Ethereum.

Among others, the “mature blockchain test” provides a mechanism by which projects can move from SEC to CFTC regulation once they meet criteria for decentralization. The criteria are based on caps on the concentration of token ownership, open-source development, decentralization of governance, and the utility of the token beyond speculation.

The CFTC would also have direct authority over digital commodity spot markets for the first time, extending its regulatory jurisdiction.

New Rules for Exchanges, Stablecoins, and DeFi

It would mandate that registered and regulated crypto exchanges, brokers and dealers, in most cases, be centrally registered and abide by customer protection, disclosure, anti-money laundering restrictions (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC) and financial reporting requirements with the CFTC.

The bill improves tax reporting by adding more platforms and expanding the definition of brokers to include additional coverage. The bill also mandates that additional platforms provide Form 1099-DA to users and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The use of ‘stablecoins,’ one of the most controversial parts of the bill, remains to be discussed. The Senate version allows returns to be based on the activities or transactions, but does not allow returns to be "economically or functionally equivalent" to bank deposit interest. The bill calls for the SEC, CFTC, and US Treasury, within one year, to establish in detail permissible reward structures.

Meanwhile, the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), which was bundled into the CLARITY Act, gives a “carve out” exemption for non-custodial developers, exempting open-source wallet and protocol developers that don't have access to customers' assets from some fund transmitter regulations.

Also Read: What if the CLARITY Act Fails? Three Scenarios Explained

What the Senate Vote Means for Crypto Markets

In the majority press release, Chairman Tim Scott (R‑SC) framed the markup as a “historic” bipartisan step after nearly a year of negotiations, emphasizing that the legislation is intended to bring clearer rules, stronger safeguards, and a more transparent framework for everyday digital assets market participants.  

Two Democrats, Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D‑MD) and Ruben Gallego (D‑AZ), joined Committee Republicans to support the bill. Senator Alsobrooks also played a leading role in shaping the compromise language on stablecoin yield.

However, not everyone in the legislature approves of the original bill. Committee minority staff released a national security advisory arguing that the current draft “fails to address key vulnerabilities” exploited by criminals, terrorists, and foreign adversaries.

What's Next?

After the committee vote of 15-9, Senate Banking and Agriculture Committee staff will combine their respective bills on the crypto market structure and present a single bill for the full Senate to vote on, which will need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.

Should it become law, the CLARITY Act could redefine the US crypto landscape by offering clarity for Bitcoin, Ethereum, exchanges, and institutional investors, while also putting in place better consumer protections and compliance requirements. 

FAQs:

1. What is the CLARITY Act?

The CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633) is a proposed US law that establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. It defines how digital assets are classified and which federal regulator oversees them.

2. Why is the Senate's 15-9 vote important?

The bipartisan committee vote advances the bill to the next legislative stage, bringing it closer to becoming law. It also signals growing political support for clear cryptocurrency regulations in the US.

3. How does the CLARITY Act divide SEC and CFTC oversight?

The SEC would regulate digital assets classified as investment contracts, while sufficiently decentralized cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and potentially Ethereum, would fall under the CFTC through the "mature blockchain" framework.

4. What changes would the CLARITY Act bring for crypto exchanges and stablecoins?

Crypto exchanges, brokers, and dealers would be required to register with the CFTC and comply with AML, KYC, disclosure, and customer protection rules. The bill also introduces clearer regulations for stablecoin rewards and expands crypto tax reporting requirements.

5. Is the CLARITY Act now a law?

No. The bill has passed the US House of Representatives and the Senate Banking Committee, but still requires approval by the full Senate before it can be signed into law and implemented by the SEC and CFTC.