The Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled its first crypto-specific fundraising framework in 90 years, offering exemptions up to $75 million for tokenized securities. The proposal comes as President Trump hosted crypto executives and urged Congress to pass the CLARITY Act, with a Senate vote scheduled for September 15.
President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass a 'fair version' of the CLARITY Act during a White House meeting with cryptocurrency and finance executives. The crypto market structure bill faces a 60-vote threshold in the Senate, with Trump positioning it as key to maintaining U.S. technological leadership over China.
Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, was sworn in as U.S. attorney general on Monday following a contentious Senate confirmation vote over the weekend that exposed bipartisan concerns about Justice Department independence.
Mark Esper, former U.S. Defense Secretary and Coinbase adviser, called on the Senate to pass the CLARITY Act in a Financial Times op-ed, arguing that digital asset regulation is essential to counter threats from China and North Korea. The appeal comes as Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a motion to proceed on the bill, setting up a procedural vote for September.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a procedural motion to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on August 8, setting up a potential September 15 vote, but the Senate then departed for August recess without holding the vote, reducing the bill's chances of passing before midterm elections.
The Senate voted 90-6 early Saturday to pass a continuing resolution funding federal agencies through December 11, 2026, preventing a government shutdown ahead of the November midterm elections. The bill now heads to the House before the Senate's five-week recess.
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump's former personal criminal defense lawyer, as U.S. Attorney General in an early-morning 50-49 party-line vote, ending weeks of political uncertainty despite bipartisan concerns about his independence from the president.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved sweeping Russian sanctions legislation Friday that would allow President Trump to impose 100% tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China. The bill, championed by Sen. Lindsey Graham before his unexpected death in July, now heads to the House of Representatives.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved sweeping Russian sanctions legislation Friday that would allow President Trump to impose 100% tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China. The bill, championed by Sen. Lindsey Graham before his unexpected death in July, now heads to the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Senate confirmed James Macy and David Prouty to the National Labor Relations Board on August 7, 2026, shifting its composition to a 3-1 Republican majority. The confirmations — part of a 74-nominee en bloc package passed 51–47 — give Republicans the three votes required by Board tradition to overturn union-friendly precedents set during the Biden era.
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 10-11 along party lines Thursday to reject a five-year farm bill, with Democrats opposing Republican plans to impose SNAP food stamp costs on state governments. The failure, compounded by Sen. Mitch McConnell's absence, blocks the bill from advancing to a Senate floor vote before the August recess.
The U.S. Senate postponed a vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act until September after Democrats withheld consent needed to bring the crypto market structure bill to the floor before the August recess. Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a motion to proceed, setting up a procedural vote when Congress returns.
XRP traded near $1.03 after the U.S. Senate delayed the CLARITY Act vote from August to September, with AI models forecasting both significant upside potential and downside risk depending on the bill's passage. The cryptocurrency faces technical pressure with analysts warning of a potential 35% decline if key support levels fail.
Julian Beaudion, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Dakota, withdrew from the race just before the ballot removal deadline, leaving independent candidate Brian Bengs as the sole challenger to Republican incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds in the deep-red state.
The Senate's cryptocurrency market structure legislation, known as the CLARITY Act, faces a tight timeline for a vote before the August recess, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicating an initial vote is expected but the bill reportedly remains seven votes short of the 60 needed for passage. The White House is reviewing the latest draft as bipartisan negotiations intensify.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines to advance Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination after he formally rescinded a planned $1.8 billion fund for Trump allies, swaying GOP holdouts John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. The nomination now heads to a full Senate vote expected before the August recess.
The Senate moved forward Monday with a bipartisan continuing resolution that would fund the federal government through December 11, 2026, avoiding a shutdown before the midterm elections. The measure passed an initial procedural vote 89-4, with Senate appropriators having unveiled the agreement Sunday.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche formally rescinded the DOJ's $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund", winning over GOP holdout senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis. The fund had been created to settle Trump's IRS lawsuit. The deal cleared the path for Blanche's Senate Judiciary Committee vote on August 5.
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act faces likely failure to advance before the Senate's August recess, with the White House reviewing the latest draft but procedural deadlines passing. Analysts are split on whether missing the deadline would hurt or help crypto markets.
Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte announced Saturday that Jay Clayton will assume leadership of the intelligence office on Monday, following Clayton's Senate confirmation this week. The transition ends Pulte's two-month tenure in the acting role.
The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference announced their support for the bipartisan Senate bill designed to regulate college athletics, ending weeks of negotiations and reviving legislation that appeared headed for failure. The endorsement clears a major obstacle for the landmark bill ahead of an expected Senate floor vote.
The Blockchain Association countered claims by the National Sheriffs' Association that cryptocurrency legislation would hinder law enforcement, while the Major Cities Chiefs Association voiced support for the bill as lawmakers push for passage.
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act remains stuck in the Senate despite clearing the House and Senate committee, with Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis criticizing Democrats for delaying the 600-page bill that includes over 100 compromises from 11 months of negotiations.
Dr. Anthony Fauci declined to answer questions at a GOP-led Senate hearing on July 29, 2026, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He accused Senator Rand Paul of attempting to trap him with perjury charges in what he characterized as an 'unhinged' inquiry into COVID-19 origins and pandemic response.
The U.S. Senate voted 51–43 along party lines on July 27, 2026, to move forward with Jay Clayton's nomination as Director of National Intelligence. The vote cleared a key procedural hurdle, setting up a final confirmation vote within days. Clayton currently serves as the Manhattan U.S. Attorney and, if confirmed, would replace Bill Pulte, who has been serving in the role on an interim basis.
House Republicans joined Democrats in a 214–208 vote to direct President Trump to end unauthorized military action against Iran, while the Senate blocked a similar measure 49–47, reflecting a congressional divide over war powers.
The Senate's CLARITY Act, a major cryptocurrency regulatory framework bill, is expected to miss its vote before the August recess despite industry pressure. The legislation has become mired in controversy over provisions that would ban federal officials, including presidents, from issuing digital assets—a measure targeting concerns about President Trump's crypto holdings.
The House Budget Committee advanced a $95 billion package on Thursday covering Iran war funding, farm aid, and President Trump's voter ID initiatives, passing on a party-line vote despite anticipated challenges in the full House and Senate.
The Senate approved a nonbinding resolution condemning efforts by Sam Bankman-Fried to secure presidential clemency following his 25-year sentence for fraud related to FTX's collapse. The resolution, introduced by Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ruben Gallego, passed through unanimous consent without objection.
By unanimous consent, U.S. senators passed S. Res. 772 on July 16, 2026, a nonbinding resolution declaring that convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried should receive no presidential pardon or commutation. Led by Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ruben Gallego, the measure responded to Bankman-Fried's pending clemency petition.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced tough questioning from both Republican and Democratic senators during his confirmation hearing, with lawmakers pressing him on a controversial IRS settlement granting President Trump tax immunity, the rollout of Epstein files, and a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund.
Trump administration's CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz drew frustrated reactions from senators during her July 15 confirmation hearing when she pledged to 'never betray the science' while simultaneously backing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s actions, raising concerns about her willingness to protect the agency from political meddling.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Republican senators at the White House on Thursday afternoon to address the final obstacle to passing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act: an ethics provision concerning Trump's $1.4 billion in crypto income. Senate Democrats are threatening to block the bill without stronger conflict-of-interest protections before the August recess deadline.
President Donald Trump held a meeting with senators on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to address the ethics provision in the Clarity Act that would limit officials' personal involvement in cryptocurrency business—the last major obstacle to passing sweeping crypto market structure legislation. The provision has drawn scrutiny given Trump's reported $1.4 billion in crypto holdings.
President Donald Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary runoff against incumbent Senator John Cornyn, one week before the election. The endorsement came despite advisers urging Trump to support Cornyn, citing concerns about Paxton's baggage.
Republican John Thune unseated Democratic Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota's Senate race, winning 51 percent to 49 percent. This marks the first time a Senate party leader has been defeated for re-election since 1952.
