In a pivotal development for U.S. cryptocurrency regulation, White House AI and Cryptocurrency chief David Sacks has confirmed that the comprehensive Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, known as the CLARITY Act, is scheduled for a Senate committee markup in January 2026. Sacks announced the timeline via a post on X, stating he received confirmation during a call with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman.
The markup represents a critical legislative step where the committees will debate, amend, and vote on the bill's text before it can advance to the full Senate. The CLARITY Act aims to resolve years of regulatory uncertainty by establishing clear rules for classifying digital assets and delineating regulatory authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
The bipartisan effort gained momentum even during the recent 43-day government shutdown, with regulators continuing to meet with industry executives from major firms including Coinbase, Ripple, Kraken, Circle, and venture capital firms a16z and Paradigm. Proponents argue the bill will provide clearer compliance pathways for crypto firms, boost institutional confidence, and strengthen investor protections.
While the January markup is a significant milestone, the path to becoming law remains complex. The bill must pass through both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with key debates expected over the precise definitions of securities versus commodities, the treatment of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and stablecoins, and the specific boundaries between the SEC and CFTC.
