Key Highlights
- SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on the CLARITY Act on September 15, 2026.
- Atkins said he expects and hopes the legislation will pass the Senate and eventually reach the president for signature.
- The SEC is preparing proposed crypto regulations designed to align with the framework outlined in the CLARITY Act.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins said the Senate is scheduled to vote on the CLARITY Act on September 15.
In a Fox Business interview recently, Atkins stated that he anticipates and hopes the legislation will pass the Senate and ultimately be sent to the president for signature. Atkins described the SEC’s proposed regulation of crypto assets as the agency’s most significant step to date in responding to the administration’s objective of establishing the United States as a center for crypto activity. He said the agency’s proposal aligns with the provisions of the CLARITY Act.
The SEC has issued the proposal for public comment so that the agency can prepare rules consistent with the statute once it is enacted. Atkins noted that the proposal includes exemptions for fundraising and associated time limits that mirror those contained in the legislation.
Alignment with legislative framework
According to Atkins, the SEC’s approach is designed to match the framework set out in the CLARITY Act. He stated that the agency intends to move forward with adopted rules that remain consistent with the statute after the comment period concludes.
Atkins said the effort is intended to provide greater certainty for market participants. He referenced the movement of innovators and capital overseas during the previous administration and stated that the current proposals aim to create conditions under which product development and fundraising can occur under U.S. law.
He added that American investors can already transfer funds internationally through online channels and that the regulatory framework should enable those activities to take place domestically under domestic rules.
Earlier testimony on the legislation
The comments follow recent statements by Circle President Heath Tarbert. On September 2, Tarbert appeared before the House Financial Services Committee during a hearing titled “Strengthening the American Economy: Promoting Growth, Opportunity, and Prosperity.”
In his testimony, Tarbert urged lawmakers to advance the CLARITY Act. He cited developments in stablecoins, tokenization, and digital payments as sources of new questions for financial regulation. Tarbert’s remarks came amid ongoing congressional consideration of broader crypto market-structure legislation.
Atkins’ interview did not address the House hearing directly. The SEC chair focused on the Senate schedule for the CLARITY Act and the agency’s parallel rulemaking process. Both the legislative track and the SEC proposal remain subject to the standard processes of congressional consideration and administrative notice-and-comment rulemaking.
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