The CLARITY Act just cleared its biggest hurdle yet, and the real countdown starts now. The Senate Banking Committee passed the bill 15-9 on May 14, with two Democrats, Gallego and Alsobrooks, crossing the aisle. It now heads to the full Senate floor, where it needs 60 votes to survive. Republicans hold 53 seats, meaning at least 7 Democratic crossovers are required. The sticking point: ethics clauses. Democrats want restrictions on government officials profiting from crypto. An amendment to ban the president and Congress from crypto businesses was defeated 13-11 along party lines. Senator Gillibrand has said she won't vote yes without stronger ethics language, and she's not alone. Galaxy Research head Alex Thorn puts the odds at 75% (up from 50-50 in April) and lays out the timeline: · Mid-June: Senate floor debate begins · Late July: House-Senate reconciliation wraps up · Week of August 3: Trump's signing window · August 10: Senate goes on recess That leaves roughly 9 weeks of floor time. If the ethics debate drags on, the window closes fast. After recess, midterm politics take over, and substantive legislation rarely moves. Meanwhile, the CFTC is operating with just one commissioner, Chair Selig, on what should be a five-person panel. The House Agriculture Committee has urged the White House to fill the four vacant seats, but new nominations still need months of Senate review. If the CLARITY Act passes, it would be the first U.S. law to fully define how crypto is regulated. How much do you think clear regulation would actually change your trading decisions? #CLARITYActAug2026