CLARITY Act Stalls as House Cuts September Voting Schedule

Crypto policy in the United States hit a significant roadblock this week. House Republican leadership unexpectedly removed two weeks from the September voting calendar, leaving only four days of work before members leave Washington on September 17. This sudden schedule change makes it highly unlikely that the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act will reach the president before the November 3 midterms.

The bill represents the most significant attempt yet to define oversight between the SEC and CFTC for digital assets. While the House passed its version of the bill in 2025, the Senate has introduced several amendments. Because the chambers must agree on a final version, the lack of time in the House makes a pre election agreement nearly impossible.

Disagreements over how to handle stablecoin rewards remain a major hurdle. While the Senate text attempts to distinguish between transaction based rewards and balance based interest, banks and crypto firms remain at odds over how these rules would affect industry competition. Without a quick resolution in the Senate, the House has no time to review or approve the changes.

Market observers should watch the upcoming Senate cloture vote scheduled for September 15. If the bill does not progress quickly, the entire process may have to start over in the next legislative session. While a post election lame duck session is possible, the future of the bill now depends on how the election results reshape the balance of power in Congress.