Senate Blocks Crypto Bill, Regulators Pledge Action

The U.S. Senate's failure to advance the CLARITY Act on September 15, 2026, has shifted cryptocurrency regulation to federal agencies, which are now poised to set rules using their existing authority. In a procedural vote that fell short of the 60 votes required, the Senate blocked the bipartisan bill that aimed to establish a federal framework for digital assets and clarify the jurisdictions of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. SEC Chair Paul Atkins stated after the vote that the agency would act decisively within its statutory authority to deliver regulatory certainty for investors and entrepreneurs. Similarly, CFTC Chair Michael Selig said his agency is ready to proceed with its planned crypto rules, emphasizing that Americans deserve clarity and consumer protections. Both officials had outlined their agencies' initiatives before the vote, and the Senate's decision now makes those agency-led efforts the primary route for near-term crypto regulation.