CLARITY Act Countdown: The Senate Has Days Left to Move Crypto's Biggest Bill

Clarity Act Updates: Why is this week the deadline?Senate Majority Leader John Thune says he still expects a floor vote on the CLARITY Act this week, even though the chamber has only a handful of legislative days left before its August recess. The Senate has until Friday to act, after which lawmakers do not return until 14 September.Under Senate rules, Thune had to start the procedural clock on 4 August to allow an August 6 vote on whether to even open debate. That opening vote needs 60 of 100 senators to say yes before the bill and its amendments can be considered at all. As of Tuesday, the bill was still not on the official floor schedule and no cloture motion had been filed.Can it actually get 60 votes?That is the real problem. Republicans hold 53 seats, so at least seven Democrats have to cross over. Committee support suggests two are already there, Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks, while Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley formally came out against the bill in mid-July after a merged draft dropped an ethics provision Democrats had treated as a condition.The prediction markets have noticed. Polymarket odds on the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 have slid to roug...