Key Highlights
- The Solana Policy Institute urged Senate leaders to hold a CLARITY Act floor vote before the August recess.
- The Institute said the bill would provide regulatory clarity, consumer protections, and legal certainty for developers and institutions.
- Kristin Smith warned that delaying the vote risks pushing the legislation into a crowded fall legislative calendar, reducing its chances of passage.
The Solana Policy Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, has formally urged Senate leaders to bring the CLARITY Act to the floor for debate and a vote before the August recess.
In a letter dated July 28, 2026, addressed to Senate Republican Leader John Thune and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Institute President Kristin Smith said the bipartisan legislation is ready for consideration after years of work across both chambers.
The letter stated that the CLARITY Act would provide regulatory clarity for the U.S. crypto industry. It would give regulators the authority to oversee digital asset markets, establish consumer protections, provide legal certainty for software developers, and create a clearer framework for institutions incorporating digital assets into their operations.
What the Solana Institute wants Congress to do
Smith emphasized the role of developers as the architects of modern market infrastructure. “Developers are the architects of the infrastructure on which modern markets depend. They shape how systems function and how people coordinate on a global scale,” the letter said.
The letter highlighted that Solana led the world in new developer growth in 2024, expanding 84 percent year-over-year, and stressed that these builders require legal certainty to continue working in the United States.
It also argued that the existing financial regulatory framework was designed around intermediaries such as brokers, custodians, and exchanges, while blockchain networks operate under a different model. According to the Institute, regulators need authority to oversee these markets while maintaining consumer protections.
The letter added that Senate and House staff, lawmakers from both parties, industry participants, and the White House have spent years refining the legislation. It urged Senate leaders to move the bill forward for floor consideration.
What the CLARITY Act would change
The CLARITY Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support, would divide oversight of digital assets between the SEC and the CFTC. Assets classified as securities would remain under SEC oversight, while decentralized digital commodities would fall under the CFTC’s jurisdiction.
The legislation also includes provisions related to consumer and investor protections, anti-money laundering compliance, cybersecurity standards, and legal protections for certain blockchain software developers.
The clock is ticking for the CLARITY Act
A day ago, in an X post, Smith underscored the practical constraints facing the Senate. She noted that standalone bills require significant floor time and procedural votes. She pointed to the GENIUS Act, which occupied approximately four weeks of Senate floor time last year, and argued that the CLARITY Act must move more efficiently.
According to Smith, the more than 600-page bill is about 99 percent finalized following negotiations involving Senate staff, lawmakers, and the White House.
She warned that the window for action is narrowing. Failure to advance the legislation before the August recess could push it into a crowded fall calendar that includes government funding deadlines, consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act, the October election period, and a potentially unpredictable lame-duck session.
Moreover, earlier today, the American Bankers Association (ABA) voiced support for the CLARITY Act while calling on U.S. lawmakers to introduce specific adjustments before moving the bill forward. The group said it supports a clear regulatory structure for the crypto sector but is seeking safeguards to prevent any unintended negative effects on community banks.
The next move is up to the Senate
The Institute’s letter positions the legislation as the product of bipartisan effort and constructive industry input. It concludes by affirming the organization’s readiness to support Senate leaders in moving the bill across the finish line.
Whether the Senate will schedule the requested floor consideration before the August recess remains to be seen, but the Solana Policy Institute has made clear that it views the coming days as a critical opportunity to deliver long-sought regulatory certainty for the crypto sector.
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