SEC chair Paul Atkins expects CLARITY Act Senate vote on September 15

Sep 1, 2026

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins announced that the Senate will hold a procedural cloture vote on the CLARITY Act on September 15, 2026. The bill, which establishes a federal regulatory framework for digital assets, requires 60 votes to advance. While Atkins and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong express optimism, the legislation remains stalled by disputes over stablecoin rewards and ethics rules. Traditional banking groups warn that stablecoin yields could siphon bank deposits, while federal regulators like the SEC and CFTC prepare independent rules in case the bill fails.

September 15 cloture vote

▪The United States Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural cloture vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on September 15, 2026.
▪The September 15, 2026 Senate vote is a procedural motion to limit debate and begin formal consideration of the bill, requiring 60 votes to pass.
▪Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed the cloture motion on the motion to proceed with the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on August 8, 2026, before the August recess.

SEC Chair Atkins expectations

▪U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins stated during a Fox Business interview on September 1, 2026, that he expects the Senate to vote on the CLARITY Act on September 15, 2026.
▪SEC Chairman Paul Atkins expressed confidence and hope that the CLARITY Act will pass the Senate and ultimately reach President Donald Trump's desk for a signature.

Digital asset regulatory framework

▪The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in July 2025 by a vote of 294 to 134, with 78 Democrats voting in favor.
▪The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (H.R. 3633) would establish a federal framework for digital assets, dividing regulatory responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC.
▪The Senate Banking Committee advanced its version of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in May 2026 by a vote of 15 to 9.

Stablecoin rewards disputes

▪Disagreements over ethics provisions, including proposed limits on government officials profiting from crypto businesses, have contributed to stalling the CLARITY Act.
▪A major dispute delaying the CLARITY Act involves stablecoin rewards, with banking groups wanting to restrict platforms like Coinbase from offering yield on stablecoin balances.

Banking sector opposition

▪American Bankers Association president and CEO Rob Nichols stated in an August 19, 2026 op-ed that the group wants to strengthen the CLARITY Act rather than kill it.
▪Six major banking trade groups, including the American Bankers Association, warned that the bill's stablecoin provisions would permit interest-like payments that siphon bank deposits.

Parallel agency rulemaking

▪The SEC sent a crypto custody proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget on August 25, 2026, to clarify how investment advisers hold crypto assets.
▪CFTC Chairman Michael Selig stated in August 2026 that the agency is preparing its own digital asset market structure rules in case Congress fails to pass the CLARITY Act.