CLARITY Act Vote Delayed
The Senate Banking Committee, led by Tim Scott, has postponed a scheduled vote on the CLARITY Act, a comprehensive crypto market bill. This postponement occurred due to widespread criticism and the emergence of new amendments.
The delay reflects complex legislative dynamics, with key industry figures expressing divergent views on the potential impacts of the bill on market structure, innovation, and regulatory clarity.
The Senate Banking Committee has postponed a critical vote on the crypto market infrastructure bill, CLARITY Act, which was previously scheduled for January 15, 2026. This decision follows recommendations from Senator Cynthia Lummis and other influential voices within the crypto sector.
The postponed CLARITY Act vote has significant implications for major crypto stakeholders such as Coinbase and Kraken. The situation echoes historical financial reforms and has sparked industry-wide debates concerning market stability and the need for legislative clarity.
Vote Postponement Stirs Controversy and Stakeholder Reactions
The Senate Banking Committee has postponed a critical vote on the crypto market infrastructure bill, CLARITY Act, which was previously scheduled for January 15, 2026. This decision was made following recommendations from Senator Cynthia Lummis and other influential voices in the crypto sector.
Committee Chair Tim Scott postponed the markup after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew his support, citing issues with the draft legislation. Additionally, Tim Draper expressed concerns regarding banking influences, while Senator Elizabeth Warren proposed amendments that would oppose developer protections.
The CLARITY Act vote has been postponed. This is a positive development as it allows for further discussion and refinement of the bill. We remain committed to working with lawmakers to ensure a balanced and effective regulatory framework for the crypto industry.
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) January 15, 2026
Impacts on Key Stakeholders: Coinbase and Kraken
The delay of the bill's vote significantly affects multiple stakeholders, including major cryptocurrency exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken. While some industry leaders advocate for continued discussions and refinement of the bill, others, such as Ryan Rasmussen of Bitwise, express a preference for no legislation over flawed regulation, citing potential negative impacts on innovation.
Potential consequences of the bill's current form could include hindrances to tokenization processes and the implementation of AML/DeFi measures. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, supports the pursuit of legislative clarity over market chaos, urging a focus on developing balanced regulatory frameworks. Existing infrastructures, such as Layer 1 and ERC-20 assets, could experience market tension as a result of this uncertainty.
Clarity beats chaos, and this bill’s success is crypto’s success.
— Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple
Bipartisan Challenges and Historical Parallels
The CLARITY Act's development and the current legislative challenges echo past adjustments made to financial regulations, such as the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in addressing competitive tensions within financial markets. These historical precedents highlight the resistance that banks have historically shown towards similar legislative measures, prompting present-day parallels in the ongoing discussions surrounding financial regulations.
Experts from Galaxy Digital foresee the eventual passage of the bill, despite the current postponements, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan efforts in achieving this goal. Arjun Sethi warns that avoiding legislation altogether could perpetuate ongoing uncertainty and significantly hamper the growth of the crypto market through continued inaction.