# Congress Related Articles

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

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.

cointelegraph07/28 01:36

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

cointelegraph07/28 01:36

Kevin Warsh Could Hike Rates This Week

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh faces growing expectations of an interest rate hike at this week's policy meeting. Traders have increased the probability of a rate rise to 36%, up from below 10% a week ago, driven by concerns that resurgent Iran-U.S. hostilities have pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel, stoking inflation fears. Strong U.S. jobs data, with unemployment claims at a historic low, provides another reason for tightening, even as consumer inflation has eased to 3.5%, still above the Fed's 2% target. Warsh maintains a secretive approach, avoiding clear policy signals and ending the Fed's previous practice of forward guidance. He has not committed to his predecessor's press conference schedule and has tasked internal groups with reviewing key inflation metrics. During recent Congressional testimony, he offered few firm opinions and contradicted prior statements, frustrating lawmakers seeking clarity. Warsh emphasizes private policy debates, aiming for each meeting to be a "family fight" where officials argue confidentially without pre-announced outcomes.

cryptonews.ru07/27 10:39

cryptonews.ru07/27 10:39

The Clarity Act's Journey Through Congress: The Thorny Path of Bipartisan Compromise in the U.S.

The U.S. Congress is struggling to advance the crypto market structure bill known as the Clarity Act, with bipartisan compromise proving difficult. Key hurdles include unresolved disputes over "yield" products and, more critically, the inclusion of strong ethics provisions for elected officials—a non-negotiable demand for many Democrats. While a compromise on yield was reached in May, securing only limited Democratic support in committee, the separate Senate Agriculture Committee version later passed with no Democratic votes due to the ethics impasse. As Republicans push for a full Senate vote in July, demands for ethics rules have expanded, and other contentious issues like developer protections and concerns from law enforcement and large banks further complicate negotiations. Despite consensus on the need for legislation, the path forward is unclear. Recent discussions between senators and White House officials aim to find acceptable ethics language. Some lawmakers question whether a compromise text can garner enough bipartisan support, with one Democrat stating the current proposal lacks the strong ethics provisions required for their vote. Potential short-term goals for the crypto community include symbolic Senate action before the August recess, a longer-term aim for passage by 2026, or establishing a detailed framework that addresses ethics and other compromises. The process remains arduous, relying on the traditional, vote-by-vote effort to build bipartisan support.

marsbit07/22 02:06

The Clarity Act's Journey Through Congress: The Thorny Path of Bipartisan Compromise in the U.S.

marsbit07/22 02:06

The Encryption Bill Clarity's Challenge: A Thorny Path of Bipartisan Compromise in the U.S.

U.S. lawmakers are attempting to advance the Clarity Act, a significant crypto market structure bill, but its path is fraught with partisan hurdles. The process has been rocky since January, when a prior bipartisan deal in the Senate Banking Committee was upended. A key compromise in May on "yield" issues allowed the bill to move forward in committee, but only with the conditional support of two Democratic senators, Angela Alsobrooks and Ruben Gallego. They emphasized that their final vote depends on reaching an agreement on ethics provisions for elected officials. Ultimately, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed its version along party lines without Democratic support. As Republicans push for a full Senate vote in July, the demand for strong ethics language has expanded beyond Democrats. Additional controversies surround provisions related to yields (aligning some Republicans with large banks) and developer protections (opposed by enforcement agencies). Core concerns about illicit finance and consumer protection remain central to the debate. Despite consensus on the need for legislation, achieving the necessary bipartisan compromise is proving difficult. While momentum exists—including recent meetings between senators and White House officials—a reconciled bill text faces skepticism. Senator Gallego has stated that without ethics terms acceptable to Democrats, they will not provide the needed votes. The immediate goals for the crypto community in Congress are unclear: a symbolic Senate vote before the August recess, eventual passage into law by 2026, or forging a final compromise framework. The arduous, vote-by-vote effort to build bipartisan support continues, mirroring the traditional legislative grind the industry must now navigate.

Foresight News07/21 12:04

The Encryption Bill Clarity's Challenge: A Thorny Path of Bipartisan Compromise in the U.S.

Foresight News07/21 12:04

CLARITY Act Odds Slip As New York Hearing Shows Crypto Policy Is Still Messy

The prospects for the CLARITY Act, a key U.S. crypto regulation bill, have dimmed according to prediction markets following a recent congressional field hearing in New York. The hearing highlighted that despite sustained political attention, translating interest into a clear, workable legislative framework remains a complicated and uncertain challenge. The crypto industry operates in a regulatory grey area, caught between SEC enforcement, CFTC jurisdictional pushes, and stalled congressional efforts. While the hearing provided another platform to advocate for rules, falling market odds reflect growing skepticism about passage this year due to partisan divides, competing priorities, and specific disputes over stablecoin regulation. This ongoing uncertainty forces companies to delay decisions and operate cautiously, underscoring that while crypto policy is central to financial debates, the path to definitive law remains messy and far from guaranteed.

bitcoinist07/18 00:23

CLARITY Act Odds Slip As New York Hearing Shows Crypto Policy Is Still Messy

bitcoinist07/18 00:23

Warsh Concludes Capitol Hill Visit! A Breakdown: What Did He Say Over These Two Days?

Walsh Concludes Capitol Hill Testimony: Key Takeaways on Independence, Inflation, and AI In his first congressional hearings as Fed Chair, Kevin Walsh faced intense scrutiny over the central bank's independence, internal reforms, and policy transparency. Over two days before House and Senate committees, lawmakers, particularly Democrats, questioned his ties to the Trump administration and recent initiatives like an AI task force led by venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Walsh staunchly defended the Fed's independence, stating, "Trump selected an independent person to do an independent job," and vowed to ignore political pressure on interest rates. He emphasized a "zero tolerance" approach to inflation, downplaying the significance of a single favorable CPI report and signaling that rate hikes remain an option to restore price stability. He addressed criticism of the Andreessen-led AI working group by clarifying it only has an advisory role. On AI's economic impact, Walsh suggested the investment boom might not be inherently inflationary and could boost productivity and wages over time. Regarding policy, Walsh reiterated his preference to move away from detailed forward guidance, promising all decisions would be released publicly and simultaneously. He framed his internal reform efforts, including five new working groups starting "from a blank slate," as necessary because past Fed policy contributed to current inflation. The hearings ended with a mix of skepticism and a "wait-and-see" attitude from Washington. While Walsh navigated the initial challenge through hawkish rhetoric and debate skills, observers noted his credibility will ultimately depend on concrete actions to fight inflation and safeguard the Fed's autonomy.

marsbit07/16 02:11

Warsh Concludes Capitol Hill Visit! A Breakdown: What Did He Say Over These Two Days?

marsbit07/16 02:11

JPMorgan backs crypto bill as Donald Trump vows to ‘not sign other bills’ – What now?

The House-passed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 faces an uncertain future despite gaining significant backing from JPMorgan, a major shift for the traditionally crypto-skeptical bank. According to BitGo CEO Mike Belshe, this support is crucial as regulatory uncertainty has been the largest obstacle to institutional adoption. Should the bill pass, it could simplify market entry for institutional investors, potentially leading to wider cryptocurrency uptake. However, approval odds on Polymarket have dropped to 45%. Supporters, including Rep. French Hill and former CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, are pushing for a Senate vote before the August recess to force a compromise. Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin also supports the legislation. Yet, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren criticizes the current draft as enabling sanctions evasion. A further complication is former President Donald Trump's vow not to sign other bills until the SAVE America Act is passed, pushing the CLARITY Act's next deadline to August 7th.

ambcrypto07/11 10:04

JPMorgan backs crypto bill as Donald Trump vows to ‘not sign other bills’ – What now?

ambcrypto07/11 10:04

‘Chicago’s last trade?’ – CFTC Chair warns against new 0.2% crypto tax

CFTC Chair Mike Selig criticizes a new Illinois law imposing a 0.2% tax on every cryptocurrency transaction, warning it could undermine Chicago's financial standing by driving investors and businesses away. He argues the state's punitive approach contradicts the federal government's more measured CLARITY Act, aimed at fostering innovation. The tax is set to take effect in January 2027. Broader federal crypto tax proposals addressing issues like double taxation are under review but face delays, with progress likely dependent on the outcome of the November midterm elections.

ambcrypto07/04 00:02

‘Chicago’s last trade?’ – CFTC Chair warns against new 0.2% crypto tax

ambcrypto07/04 00:02

Is Trump using the CLARITY Act as leverage in broader negotiations?

The July 4 deadline for the CLARITY Act's passage appears set to lapse without approval, following nearly a year of delays since the House passed it in July 2025. The current holdup stems from President Donald Trump using the bill as leverage in broader negotiations. He recently called off the signing ceremony for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, having previously stated he would not sign other bills until Republicans pass the SAVE America Act. This creates a Senate scheduling crunch, squeezing the CLARITY Act's chances before the August recess. Despite Trump's move, Senator Tim Scott and others express hope for advancing the crypto market structure bill quickly, citing a bipartisan Senate Banking Committee proposal. The urgency is driven by concerns that prolonged regulatory uncertainty could push the crypto ecosystem to other nations. However, the bill risks losing momentum if Republicans cannot secure the required 60 votes before the recess, potentially delaying it until 2027. Galaxy Research has consequently lowered its outlook for the Act's passage from 60% to 50%.

ambcrypto07/01 06:02

Is Trump using the CLARITY Act as leverage in broader negotiations?

ambcrypto07/01 06:02

Crypto Lobby Pushes Congress To Keep Staking And Mining Tax Bill Intact

Crypto advocacy groups are urging U.S. lawmakers to pass the Tax Clarity for Mining and Staking Act (H.R. 9175) without changes. The bill seeks to clarify that rewards for proof-of-work miners and proof-of-stake validators are taxed only when the assets are sold, not immediately when received. This deferred tax treatment is crucial for operators' cash flow and profitability. The proposal faces opposition from banking interests, who argue it could give crypto yield products an unfair advantage over traditional savings. The outcome will impact network decentralization, as complex tax rules could push out smaller operators. The lobbying effort marks an expansion of crypto's policy focus beyond market structure into tax rules that underpin network economics. The bill's fate depends on whether Congress advances it as a standalone clarification or part of a broader digital-asset package.

bitcoinist06/24 13:21

Crypto Lobby Pushes Congress To Keep Staking And Mining Tax Bill Intact