Senate Rejects CLARITY Act, Stalling US Crypto Regulation

The U.S. Senate failed to advance a landmark cryptocurrency regulatory bill on September 15, 2026, dealing a significant setback to efforts to create a comprehensive federal framework for digital assets. The procedural vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, known as the CLARITY Act, fell short of the 60 votes needed to open debate, receiving 49 votes in favor and 50 against. The defeat leaves the future of the legislation uncertain, with little time remaining in the congressional calendar before the November midterm elections. The bill aimed to establish clear regulatory boundaries between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, while setting compliance rules for crypto exchanges, brokers, and dealers. Digital asset prices reacted sharply to the vote. Bitcoin fell approximately 4.6%, dropping below $75,000 and triggering over $771 million in crypto liquidations. Crypto-linked stocks also declined, with Coinbase and Circle Internet Group both seeing significant losses. The bill had faced opposition from multiple fronts.