CLARITY Act cloture motion sets 60-vote Senate test in September

US Senate Majority Leader John Thune filed a cloture motion for H.R. 3633, the CLARITY Act, paving a potential Senate floor vote after the chamber returns on Sept. 14. Passage at the floor would require 60 votes, so Republicans likely need support from some Democrats. The procedural step clears debate but does not settle the disputes that delayed negotiations. The latest draft focuses on: limits on stablecoin rewards, safeguards for illicit finance, and an ethics conflict question—whether senior officials can profit from crypto businesses while regulating the sector. A bipartisan proposal would require the president to divest from crypto-related businesses, but it remains unresolved with the White House. A separate stablecoin fault line also persists: the Senate proposal would restrict rewards on idle stablecoin balances that resemble bank deposits, while allowing incentives tied to transaction activity. The CLARITY Act’s goal is clearer federal oversight and a more explicit SEC vs. CFTC role split. For traders, this is the first measurable political checkpoint for the CLARITY Act since the August setback. Momentum from the Senate Banking Committee (15-9) has not yet translated into the 60-floor votes needed, keeping execution risk high. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the industry is closer than ever and urged lawmakers to finish in September.