A key Democratic vote on crypto’s biggest legislative priority is warning the industry not to push for speed over substance. Senator Ruben Gallego said pressuring the Senate into a fast vote on the CLARITY Act could actually delay the bill further, not accelerate it.
Gallego Urges Patience Over a Rushed Vote
Speaking at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium on Wednesday, Gallego told the crypto industry to keep encouraging negotiation between Senate Democrats and Republicans rather than demanding an immediate vote. He pointed to unresolved pieces of the bill, including the Agriculture Committee’s portion, the work needed to assemble the full package, and the process of sending it to the House.
“Don’t go for a fast vote,” Gallego said, warning that a rushed result isn’t necessarily the outcome the industry wants. He added that skipping steps now would only set the legislation back further down the line.
The CLARITY Act aims to create a federal framework for digital assets, splitting regulatory oversight between the SEC and the CFTC. Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed earlier this month that the chamber is delaying the vote until September, when it will reportedly be prioritized once lawmakers return from recess.
Ethics Language Still Unresolved With the White House
Gallego said he and Republican Senator Thom Tillis sent compromise ethics language to the White House before the recess but have yet to receive a substantive response. He argued that strong ethics protections are essential to winning over Democratic support for the bill.
“We’ve been sending offers over and over again to the White House, and they’ve been coming back either blank, or they’ve come back even slightly further back, or we’ve heard nothing,” Gallego said. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
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Pressure From the Administration Continues
Gallego’s comments come as the White House pushes in the opposite direction on timing. Trump urged Congress this week to pass a “fair version” of the CLARITY Act during an appearance with crypto industry executives. White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt has said the administration is willing to keep negotiating with Democrats through September but “can’t afford to wait forever.”
With both sides publicly committed to a September timeline but still divided on ethics and stablecoin yield questions, the coming weeks will determine whether CLARITY moves forward as a bipartisan framework or stalls under the weight of unresolved disputes.
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