US Crypto Regulation Nears Landmark Vote: Clarity Act Advances to Senate Markup

The journey towards a definitive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in the United States has taken a monumental step forward. David Sacks, the White House AI and Crypto Czar, announced on Thursday that the highly anticipated Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (Clarity Act) is officially slated for its final “markup” session in the Senate next January. This pivotal development signals that the landmark bill is closer than ever to becoming law, promising much-needed regulatory certainty for the burgeoning digital asset industry.

A Critical Milestone Confirmed by Senate Leadership

Sacks shared the breakthrough on social media platform X, detailing a productive discussion with key legislative figures. “Today we had a very positive call with Chairmen @SenatorTimScott and @JohnBoozman who confirmed that a markup for Clarity is coming in January.” He underscored the profound significance of this progress, adding:

We have never been closer to passing this, President Trump’s personally endorsed, crypto market structure bill.

We had a great call today with Chairmen @SenatorTimScott and @JohnBoozman who confirmed that a markup for Clarity is coming in January. Thanks to their leadership, as well as @RepFrenchHill and @CongressmanGT in the House, we are closer than ever to passing the landmark crypto…

— David Sacks (@davidsacks47) December 18, 2025

The Clarity Act: Defining Digital Asset Regulation

The Clarity Act represents a crucial bipartisan legislative effort aimed at creating a well-defined regulatory framework for digital assets, many of which currently exist in an ambiguous legal space. Its core mission is to delineate the jurisdictional responsibilities between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), thereby resolving long-standing uncertainties that have hampered innovation and investment in the crypto sector.

This vital legislation has already demonstrated strong cross-party appeal, having successfully passed the House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support in July of this year. Sacks’ recent update now propels the Clarity Act into the substantive review phase within the Senate, a critical juncture in its legislative journey.

The Road Ahead: Senate Markup and Potential Integration

The forthcoming January markup session is a pivotal procedural step in the legislative process. During this phase, members of the Senate Banking Committee and Agriculture Committee will meticulously review, debate, and potentially amend the bill’s provisions, line by line. Only after the committees approve the revised legislation will it be eligible for a full vote by the entire Senate.

It is noteworthy that the Senate has also been developing its own version of a crypto market structure bill, which currently resides in a “discussion draft” stage. This Senate proposal largely aligns with the Clarity Act’s focus on clarifying SEC and CFTC responsibilities, notably introducing the concept of “Ancillary Assets” to differentiate which cryptocurrencies should not be categorized as securities.

Market analysts widely anticipate that the January markup will serve as a crucial convergence point, potentially integrating elements from both the House-passed Clarity Act and the Senate’s discussion draft. This collaborative effort aims to forge a robust and comprehensive final version of the legislation, paving the way for a more predictable, transparent, and stable regulatory environment for digital assets in the United States.