Clarity Act Approved by Senate as Bitcoin Hits $82K
The Clarity Act has successfully cleared the Senate Banking Committee with a 15 to 9 vote on Thursday, driving Bitcoin’s price above $82,000 for the first time in weeks.
Summary
- The Senate Banking Committee endorsed the Clarity Act with a bipartisan 15 to 9 vote, including support from two Democrats who aligned with all 13 Republicans on the committee.
- Following the vote, Bitcoin surged over $82,000 but later adjusted to around $81,500, representing a daily increase of approximately 2.5%.
- Pending ethics provisions and the requirement for 60 votes on the Senate floor remain as hurdles the bill must overcome before a full Senate vote scheduled ahead of the May 21 recess.
The Clarity Act advanced from the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday after a bipartisan 15 to 9 vote, marking a crucial legislative achievement for the most significant crypto market structure bill in U.S. history. In reaction to the vote, Bitcoin (BTC) rose beyond $82,000 but settled at approximately $81,500, indicating an around 2.5% gain for the day.
Two Democratic senators partnered with all 13 Republicans on the committee to support the bill. Chairman Tim Scott referred to achieving unanimous Republican backing as “the red zone,” recalling Senator John Kennedy’s earlier reluctance to endorse the proposal.
Cody Carbone, the Digital Chamber’s head, noted that unresolved ethics provisions regarding crypto trading by lawmakers could be the most significant obstacle prior to a floor vote. “I believe an agreement will be finalized before it goes to the floor, as they’ll need to ensure they have the required 60 votes,” Carbone commented.
What the Clarity Act does
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which previously passed the House with a 294 to 134 vote in July 2025, aims to delineate the responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC. Under this act, digital commodities would fall under the supervision of the CFTC, while digital securities would remain regulated by the SEC, addressing years of regulatory uncertainty that have impeded institutional investment in U.S. crypto markets.
Before the bill can be sent to the President, it must secure 60 votes in the Senate, reconcile with the Senate Agriculture Committee’s version, and align with the House’s text. The full 309-page bill can be accessed at congress.gov. Senators Lummis and Moreno have warned that failing to meet the Memorial Day recess deadline of May 21 could defer the next legislative opportunity until 2030.
White House adviser Patrick Witt has stated that the administration will oppose any ethics provisions that specifically target the president, complicating negotiations leading up to a floor vote. Democratic senators have linked their support to comprehensive ethics language that applies to all lawmakers and public officials.
Coinbase VP Kara Calvert emphasized at Consensus 2026 that bipartisan backing is crucial and highlighted the need for at least 60 votes for the bill to move forward. For Bitcoin, currently trading around $81,500, the committee vote primarily serves as a confidence barometer.
The importance of the bill for BTC is less about its classification as a commodity and more about the broader effects a clarified U.S. digital asset framework could have on institutional risk appetite throughout the market.