Lawmakers Push CLARITY Act to Full House Vote After Strong Support in Key House Committees

Highlights:

• The CLARITY Act is heading for a vote on the House floor after approval by House committees.
• Lawmakers debated key points like developer rights and the interests of the president in digital assets.
• The bill aims to define which assets fall under the oversight of the SEC or CFTC.

The Digital Asset Market Structure Clarity Act will now go for consideration on the House floor after passing the House Financial Services Committee by a vote of 32 to 19. Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee lawmakers voted 47 to 6 to move the bill forward. These approvals marked the final step before a full vote in the House.

🚨The CLARITY Act is heading to the House Floor. @RepFrenchHill @RepBryanSteil pic.twitter.com/vI21f5D3WN

— Financial Services GOP (@FinancialCmte) June 11, 2025

The bill, first introduced in May, sets out to define how digital assets should be handled under existing U.S. laws. It draws a line between assets that should fall under the Securities and Exchange Commission and those under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It also addresses asset custody and includes rules for different types of tokens, including stablecoins. According to Committee Chair GT Thompson, the bill will now move forward, and members who disagree can submit written objections by Friday.

Supporters believe the measure provides clarity to the digital asset industry, which has lacked a clear legal structure. By making distinctions based on the function of an asset, the bill avoids placing too much burden on one agency. During earlier discussions, lawmakers also noted that developers need a stable legal environment to remain in the country. The legislation seeks to make that possible by offering defined rules for the industry.

Fierce Debate on Protection and Political Motives Before Vote

While the bill advanced through committees, lawmakers debated key issues that could affect its final form. Representative French Hill proposed an amendment that would offer legal protections for blockchain developers. However, the committee had not held a vote on that amendment by the time of reporting. Other proposals raised concern among members from both parties.

Representative Brad Sherman warned that the bill could allow bailouts for digital asset firms if markets collapse. He argued that the current language provides space for large companies to grow too big to fail. Meanwhile, Representative Maxine Waters proposed adding language to address possible conflicts linked to President Donald Trump’s digital asset holdings. Both amendments were rejected in voice votes during the markup session.

Representative Tom Emmer raised another concern, pointing out that noncustodial developers might still face legal risks under unclear rules. He warned that such risks could push talent out of the U.S. market. On the other hand, Republican lawmakers stated that the bill does not focus on any one individual’s finances. They emphasized that the framework aims for consistency, not political targeting.

Several Democratic members argued that the CLARITY Act could weaken oversight and create gaps in enforcement. They noted that traditional firms might use the bill’s language to shift into the digital asset space without enough checks. Despite these concerns, committee members did not adopt any of the proposed changes.

CLARITY Act Moves Toward Final House Vote with Industry Watching

After passing through both committees, the two versions of the bill will now be merged. This unified version will be prepared for a full House vote. Lawmakers have until Friday to submit any objections or counterarguments. The House will then decide whether to pass the final draft of the CLARITY Act.

At the same time, the Senate is reviewing separate proposals that relate to digital assets. One such proposal is the GENIUS Act, which focuses on rules for stablecoins. Industry leaders are following the House vote closely. Ji Kim, acting CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, stated that the bill could help define clear rules and protect consumers.