Treasury Slams Senate Hold on CLARITY Act as deadline and 2026 politics loom

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attacked Senate Democrats for blocking a floor vote on the CLARITY Act on July 30, accusing them of political cowardice amid pressure from Senator Elizabeth Warren and referencing Satoshi Nakamoto as part of his argument. The House-passed bill has been pending in the Senate for more than a year ^[1].

Multiple reports say the CLARITY Act’s prospects are tied to near-term negotiating deadlines and broader election dynamics. One account says the outcome could hinge on the 2026 midterms, with Republicans seeking passage before November 3 and Democrats pressing for stronger ethics, AML, and conflict-of-interest oversight. Another report describes a Trump-team ethics counteroffer and indicates the White House is expected to review a new bipartisan ethics proposal over the weekend ^{[2] [3] [4]}.

The CLARITY Act is at a critical point in the Senate process as lawmakers weigh ethics and enforcement terms and look toward upcoming election milestones ^{[2] [4]}.