SEC Chair Paul Atkins Targets September 15 for CLARITY Act Senate Vote

SEC Chair Paul Atkins stated that he expects the Senate to vote on the CLARITY Act on September 15. In an interview with Fox Business, he expressed anticipation and hope that the bill will pass the chamber and ultimately reach the President’s desk for signature. This expected timeline follows a delay from the period before the August recess, although Senate passage remains unconfirmed.

The substance of the bill is as significant as its timing. The CLARITY Act would establish a framework for classifying digital assets as securities, commodities, or stablecoins. Atkins also described the SEC’s broader efforts as an initiative to update and modernize regulations for the era of blockchain and crypto assets.

Despite the delayed vote, the SEC and CFTC have not paused their efforts to shape crypto policy. Last week, the SEC submitted a proposal to the White House aimed at clarifying the framework for the custody of crypto assets held by investment advisers and companies. The proposal indicates that regulators are continuing work on parts of their agenda independently of the legislative timetable.

The bill’s stall has also involved political and industry disputes. Although the House passed CLARITY last year, the bill has been deadlocked for most of this year after the banking lobby clashed with lawmakers and crypto businesses over whether platforms such as Coinbase should be permitted to pay customers yield.

Photo by Ramaz Bluashvili on Pexels

Lawmakers have also sought changes to the bill’s ethics language. A draft circulating in July would bar government officials from promoting or profiting from crypto, but some Democratic lawmakers argued it did not go far enough. Pro-crypto Republicans, meanwhile, accused Democrats of delaying the bill for political reasons.

What Happens Next for The CLARITY Act?

The immediate checkpoint is September 15, when Atkins said the Senate would vote on the measure. He has expressed hope that the Senate will pass the bill and send it to the President for signature, but the outcome still depends on a vote that has not yet taken place.

LATEST: Former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo told CNBC that “if we don’t pass the CLARITY Act, it costs us internationally. Europe is ahead of us. Asia is ahead of us.” pic.twitter.com/pLQecTwUvb

— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) September 2, 2026

The yield and ethics disputes that helped stall the bill remain central issues as the Senate timetable approaches. For additional background, see this breakdown of the Senate vote and its hurdles.

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