Key Insights:
- John Thune says the CLARITY Act is unlikely to move in the Senate before April.
- Kristin Smith predicts the crypto market bill could pass by July 2026.
- Donald Trump urges Congress to fast-track the bill and warns delays could benefit China.
The much-anticipated CLARITY Act may face further delay, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune. He posited that the progress on the market structure bill is unlikely in the Senate before April.
John Thune’s statement is based on the Senate’s current focus on other legislative priorities. This shift in focus has sparked fears of further setbacks in achieving regulatory clarity for the digital asset market.
John Thune Says CLARITY Act is Unlikely to Move Before April
According to an X post shared by Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett earlier today, the CLARITY Act progress is still facing issues. She shed light on Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s latest statement.
According to John Thune, the crypto bill is less likely to proceed in the Senate before April. Even though he believes that the CLARITY Act could soon move out of the Senate Banking Committee, it remains unlikely to happen before April.
He stated, “Market structure is a bill that’s, I’m hoping, going to come out of the Banking Committee soon, probably not before, I would say, the April time period.”
Further, Thune stated that the Senate is currently busy with some other deals. He posited that the Senate would first vote on the SAVE America Act. That’s the main reason he believes the crypto bill will face further delays.
Will the CLARITY Act Pass by July?
Notably, there are multiple comments and different perspectives on the passage of the CLARITY Act. For example, Solana Policy Institute President Kristin Smith recently stated that the bill is more likely to be passed by July.
She also pointed out the challenges the bill needs to overcome. She acknowledged that passing standalone legislation before the US midterm elections can be difficult. Kristin explained that lawmakers may not be able to attach the CLARITY Act to larger “must-pass” bills.
That’s why it would require support from both Republican and Democratic leaders. One key Democratic voice, Elizabeth Warren, has been a strong critic of the market structure bill.
Despite these major challenges, Smith believes that the CLARITY Act will finally be approved in July. This projection aligns with the prediction of JPMorgan analysts, who stated that the bill would be passed by mid-2026.
One of the main reasons why Smith remains optimistic about the bill is its support from influential figures, including US President Donald Trump.
Donald Trump Urges Congress to Fast-Track CLARITY Act
As the CLARITY Act faces delays, especially amid the ongoing stablecoin yield debate, Trump has been urging Congress to move quickly. He also accused the banking industry of deliberately slowing down the progress of the legislation.
Trump stated, “The U.S. needs to get Market Structure done, ASAP…Americans should earn more money on their money.”
He posited that the banks are intentionally holding back the market structure bill. He added that lawmakers need to reach a fair agreement with the crypto industry in order to move the digital asset bill forward in the Senate.
The president also warned that if the bill doesn’t pass soon, the crypto industry could move to other countries, such as China. He said continued delays might give rival economies an advantage in shaping the global digital asset market, potentially leaving the US behind.