President Donald Trump has approved an ethics rule in the Clarity Act, removing the last big hurdle before the crypto market structure bill can go to a Senate vote. This rule stops the president, vice president, members of Congress, and other federal officials from making money from digital assets while they are in office.
Trump Signs Off, Senate Vote Nears
The White House and Senators Cynthia Lummis and Bernie Moreno agreed on the ethics language, according to Punchbowl News. Senate Republicans now have the bill’s text, but the full details are still private. Industry sources say the deal was reached late Monday after months of negotiations, with Trump meeting senators last week to resolve the final issues.
The ethics language delayed the bill for months, so Trump’s approval is a real turning point. The Clarity Act would be the first federal regulatory framework made just for the crypto industry, clearly dividing responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC. Reports say Democrats have not yet seen the final text, and a new version of the bill should be ready in a few days.
Senate Vote Timeline Tightens
Lawmakers are up against a strict deadline. The Senate needs to finish talks on the revised bill and vote before the August recess. The exact timing is still unclear, but Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger said a vote could happen as early as this week.
Industry voices have weighed in ahead of the vote:
- Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, pressed lawmakers to pass the bill, warning that inaction would leave regulatory gaps open to bad actors
- Coinbase Vice Chair Ryan VanGrack said the bill would close the loophole related to FTX, add protections against insider trading, and make consumer safeguards stronger.
If the Senate passes the bill, it will go back to the House for another review before it reaches Trump for his signature.
Betting Markets Price In Momentum
The prediction platform Polymarket now gives the Clarity Act about a 44% chance of becoming law in 2026. This is a big jump after news of Trump agreeing to the ethics terms. The change shows that people are more confident the bill can pass its final hurdles, even with a tight legislative schedule.
The process has been difficult. Disagreements over ethics and the short time before the August recess have slowed the bill’s progress. Some investors are now using crypto prediction markets to follow these odds in real time, treating political outcomes like any other risk. Now that Trump supports the bill, the focus is on whether the Senate can finish the text and vote before the deadline.
