# Politics Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Politics", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Just One Step Away, What's Really Holding Up the Clarity Act?

The "Clarity Act," a major U.S. digital asset market structure bill, faces a critical hurdle with Congress's summer recess approaching on August 7. While the White House agreed to add an "ethics provision" targeting officials' crypto dealings—seen as a concession from Republicans—significant disagreements remain, causing analysts to lower its 2026 passage probability to 30%. The core dispute centers on the ethics clause's details. Democrats object to its enforcement being solely under the Department of Justice (DOJ), led by an ex-Trump lawyer, demanding independent oversight. They also oppose a sunset clause making the rules expire in 2029 (coinciding with a potential Trump term end) and argue restrictions on officials' family members are insufficient. Seven key Democratic senators negotiating the bill have called the current text inadequate. Republicans show little sign of further compromise, with a White House advisor stating the President has already made historic concessions. Time is running out. The Senate has postponed the bill to prioritize other matters, with only a few days left before recess. It must also compete for floor time with other contentious bills like Russia sanctions. The final push for the Clarity Act hinges on resolving these last-minute ethical and procedural disputes.

marsbit8h ago

Just One Step Away, What's Really Holding Up the Clarity Act?

marsbit8h ago

Here’s why the CLARITY Act’s ethics deal may be so hard to reach

The long-awaited US Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY) faces a major hurdle over its ethics provisions, potentially derailing the bill. While there is broad agreement on the need for clearer digital asset rules, negotiators are divided. Democrats argue the current proposal's ethics rules are too weak and object to relying solely on the Department of Justice for enforcement, preferring state attorneys general have a role. They express concerns about conflicts of interest, citing President Trump's substantial crypto ventures. Republicans defend the provisions as historically strong and insist federal law should be enforced uniformly by the DOJ. The latest draft would ban senior federal officials from issuing digital assets while in office, with restrictions expiring in 2029. Despite the impasse, many observers believe a compromise is still possible. Industry representatives warn that rejecting the bill could leave no regulatory framework at all, whereas passing it would provide crucial certainty. The debate has now narrowed to finalizing ethics enforcement, seen as a sign of progress on the broader bill.

cointelegraph15h ago

Here’s why the CLARITY Act’s ethics deal may be so hard to reach

cointelegraph15h ago

Quantum Computers Haven't Arrived Yet, but Satoshi's 1.1 Million Bitcoin Pose the First Problem

A zero-knowledge proof tool can help modern Bitcoin wallets migrate assets before quantum attacks in milliseconds. However, approximately 1.1 million bitcoins mined by Satoshi Nakamoto before 2012 are fundamentally unprotected by such solutions, as they reside in older P2PK addresses lacking the hierarchical structure required for this cryptographic rescue. This exposes a critical divide: post-2012 HD wallets can potentially "upgrade" signatures using tools like Project Eleven's, while early coins are cryptographically isolated. The community faces a political, not technical, dilemma with four contentious options: 1) Let quantum attackers seize the coins, risking market instability; 2) Hard fork to freeze vulnerable addresses, seen as violating property rights; 3) Implement extreme spending limits to slow any attack; 4) Redistribute "orphaned" coins, breaking immutability. Each solution threatens a core Bitcoin tenet. The market is already pricing in this governance risk, as evidenced by institutional divestment citing uncertainty. The true crisis isn't the arrival of quantum computing, but the community's inability to reconcile its foundational principles with an existential technological shift.

marsbit07/22 02:18

Quantum Computers Haven't Arrived Yet, but Satoshi's 1.1 Million Bitcoin Pose the First Problem

marsbit07/22 02:18

U.S., U.K. unveil stablecoin roadmap as CLARITY Act stalls: ‘For their own political gain!’

The U.S. and U.K. have jointly affirmed their commitment to fostering innovation in digital assets by outlining a cooperative roadmap for stablecoins and tokenized assets. Their 10-point statement emphasizes reducing regulatory friction, particularly by avoiding disproportionately burdensome reserve requirements for stablecoin issuers. This follows the Bank of England's softened stance on reserve rules, now more aligned with the U.S. GENIUS Act framework. However, a divergence in regulatory progress is emerging. The U.K. is advancing towards a comprehensive crypto regulatory framework set for 2027, which includes measures like deferring capital gains tax on crypto lending. In contrast, the U.S. faces significant political hurdles, with the key crypto market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, stalled and its chances of passage dropping to yearly lows. This political deadlock, marked by anti-tech rhetoric, risks leaving the U.S. behind in establishing a clear and frictionless framework for digital assets.

ambcrypto07/15 12:03

U.S., U.K. unveil stablecoin roadmap as CLARITY Act stalls: ‘For their own political gain!’

ambcrypto07/15 12:03

Trump Earns $2.2 Billion Annually, Two-Thirds from Cryptocurrency, with 87 Stock Trades Daily

Former U.S. President Donald Trump reported a personal income exceeding $2.2 billion in 2025, the highest annual income for a sitting president, according to U.S. government financial disclosures. This income primarily stemmed from cryptocurrency ventures and investments, starkly contrasting the standard presidential salary of $400,000. More than two-thirds ($1.4 billion) of his income originated from cryptocurrency-related activities. This includes over $1 billion in Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings, approximately $800 million from World Liberty Financial (a crypto project co-founded with his son), and about $635 million from sales of the TRUMP meme coin. Overall, Trump family crypto operations reportedly generated over $2.3 billion in profit after his 2025 inauguration. Trump's stock portfolio showed heavy trading activity, with over 22,000 trades executed in 2025—averaging 87 trades per day. Major holdings included tech giants like Google, Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft. Notably, some large-scale stock purchases coincided with major policy announcements, such as tariffs, raising questions about potential insider trading. His traditional business empire, centered on real estate and branding, contributed $575 million. Additionally, he earned nearly $60 million through numerous "DT Marks" licensing companies, which leverage the Trump brand globally in locations like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The report highlights significant conflicts of interest, as countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, whose entities invested in Trump's businesses, later received favorable U.S. policy treatment. Trump has stated he delegates financial management and is not directly involved in day-to-day investment decisions.

Odaily星球日报07/09 02:09

Trump Earns $2.2 Billion Annually, Two-Thirds from Cryptocurrency, with 87 Stock Trades Daily

Odaily星球日报07/09 02:09

‘Regular cycle’ disrupted? Hoskinson blames U.S. politics for crypto’s stall

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson criticizes the influence of U.S. politics on the cryptocurrency market, arguing it has disrupted the industry's natural cycle. He claims the market is no longer driven by technology and adoption but by political uncertainty, particularly from the Trump administration. Hoskinson suggests that without U.S. interference, a regular market cycle and an "alt season" would have occurred in 2025. He also highlights Trump's substantial personal gains from crypto ventures and warns of a potential "Gensler 2.0" regulatory crackdown. Hoskinson's views align with earlier warnings from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who cautioned against supporting political candidates based solely on their pro-crypto stance. The summary notes ongoing legal hurdles for Trump's proposed Bitcoin reserve plan.

ambcrypto07/07 18:02

‘Regular cycle’ disrupted? Hoskinson blames U.S. politics for crypto’s stall

ambcrypto07/07 18:02

Trump's Crypto Empire: A $2.3 Billion Wealth Transfer Experiment

In June 2026, Reuters investigations revealed that since Donald Trump's return to the White House, his family has accumulated roughly $2.3 billion in profits from four core crypto ventures: World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the $TRUMP meme coin, American Bitcoin, and ALT5 Sigma (later renamed AI Financial). Coincidentally, overall investor losses in these projects were estimated to be a similar amount. The businesses, spanning DeFi, stablecoins, meme coins, Bitcoin mining, and digital payments, largely relied not on technological innovation but on converting the political influence and notoriety of the Trump brand into financial assets sold to the market. This marks a dramatic shift from Trump's earlier skepticism of cryptocurrencies. The ventures operated on a similar logic: leveraging the Trump name to generate market hype and trust, attracting investment through token sales or public listings, and enabling the family to capture profits upfront through equity, token allocations, and fees, while later entrants often bore the brunt of the risk as markets cooled. WLFI, the most profitable venture, generated an estimated $1.6 billion for the family, primarily through sales of its locked, illiquid governance token and its USD1 stablecoin. The $TRUMP meme coin, a direct monetization of the presidential IP, brought in over $600 million for Trump-linked entities before its price crashed nearly 97% from its peak. American Bitcoin gained a "Trump stock" premium for its mining operations, and ALT5 Sigma/AI Financial combined Trump, AI, and crypto themes for a temporary valuation surge. The episode underscores how political influence can be packaged into financial assets, creating substantial wealth for promoters while highlighting the risks for investors who base decisions on hype and brand allegiance over fundamental business models and cash flows.

marsbit06/11 02:54

Trump's Crypto Empire: A $2.3 Billion Wealth Transfer Experiment

marsbit06/11 02:54

70% of the Public Opposes AI, Americans Hope the U.S. Loses the AI War

70% of Americans believe AI development is moving too fast, with growing public resistance evolving from online criticism to real-world protests and violence. This widespread anti-AI sentiment stems from fears of job losses, rising utility costs, environmental damage, threats to democracy, and financial instability. Key incidents illustrate the backlash: Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt was loudly booed at a graduation for promoting AI; AI company ads are vandalized; protests and even violent attacks target AI firms and data centers. Polls show deep public pessimism and strong local opposition to data center construction, often surpassing resistance to nuclear power plants. The core grievances are economic and practical: AI is seen as automating jobs, concentrating wealth, and increasing household electricity and water bills due to massive data center resource demands. Environmentalists also oppose AI's high energy use and carbon emissions. This opposition has turned AI into a major political issue in the US. While the Trump administration prioritizes AI innovation for global competition, bipartisan pushback is growing. Democrats and factions within the MAGA movement are forming temporary alliances to support stricter regulations and local bans on new data centers, pressuring the administration to choose between its tech industry backers and its voter base. The situation highlights a profound national divide over AI's future.

marsbit06/06 05:14

70% of the Public Opposes AI, Americans Hope the U.S. Loses the AI War

marsbit06/06 05:14

Crypto Billionaires Rally Behind Nigel Farage As Political Stakes Rise

Reform UK’s fundraising surged sixfold in early 2026, raising $12.5 million—more than any other British party—largely driven by two major crypto donors. Christopher Harborne (Tether stakeholder) donated $4 million, while Ben Delo (BitMEX co-founder) gave $5.4 million. This combined $9.4 million surpassed the roughly $5.4 million each raised by Labour and the Conservatives. Nigel Farage, Reform’s leader, has actively courted crypto support, advocating for lower crypto taxes and a Bitcoin reserve. Meanwhile, a separate $6.7 million personal gift from Harborne to Farage is under parliamentary inquiry regarding its declaration. Reform’s rise, fueled significantly by crypto-linked donations, marks a major shift in UK political financing.

bitcoinist06/05 20:01

Crypto Billionaires Rally Behind Nigel Farage As Political Stakes Rise

bitcoinist06/05 20:01

"Crypto Retirement Plan" Heavily Criticized by Democrats: Trump Is "Harvesting" American Workers' Pensions

Democratic senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA), are urging the Labor Department to repeal a proposed rule that would open U.S. retirement savings accounts, such as 401(k)s, to investments in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and other alternative assets. The rule, stemming from an August executive order by President Trump, would provide a legal safe harbor for plan fiduciaries offering these volatile assets if they follow a prescribed process. The lawmakers argue in a 14-page letter that the rule dangerously weakens long-standing "prudent man" standards under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), potentially exposing the $14.2 trillion in 401(k) savings to high-risk, minimally regulated investments. They cite warnings from FINRA about crypto's high volatility and from the FBI about massive cryptocurrency scam losses. The letter also alleges a conflict of interest, noting that President Trump's adult children manage the family's crypto business, which has reportedly raised billions from digital token sales. They contend the rule change could enrich the Trump family at the expense of workers' retirement security. In defense, the Trump administration frames the rule as expanding worker choice. Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling stated it ends the department "picking winners and losers," requiring fiduciaries to follow a prudent process. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent supported it as a step toward the president's "Golden Age."

marsbit06/03 08:47