Atkins Commits SEC to Advancing Crypto Legislation SEC Chair Paul Atkins has reaffirmed the agency's support for the CLARITY Act, the most significant piece of crypto market structure legisla
SEC Chair Paul Atkins has reaffirmed the agency's support for the CLARITY Act, the most significant piece of crypto market structure legislation the United States has produced. Writing on X, the chief of Wall Street's biggest regulator said he was "committed to supporting Congress in advancing" the bill.Atkins added that "American leadership in the digital finance revolution means matching the energy of American innovators with a regulatory framework worthy of them," and shared video from a CNBC interview where he discussed the need for such legislation.
During the CNBC interview on July 27, Atkins discussed the CLARITY Act's potential to create a durable regulatory foundation and explained that the SEC is prepared to develop related rules if congressional action does not move forward.
The CLARITY Act cleared the House in July 2025 with a bipartisan 294-134 vote.On May 14, 2026, during a formal markup hearing, the Senate Banking Committee advanced the bill by a vote of 15-9. However, while the bill has cleared the House and survived a contentious committee markup, it has not yet reached the Senate floor.
The bill draws a clear line between digital asset securities and digital commodities. The SEC would retain oversight of tokens that function as securities, while the CFTC would regulate most blockchain-native tokens as commodities.Supporters say these measures would reduce regulatory uncertainty that has long affected the U.S. crypto industry and provide businesses with clearer compliance expectations while encouraging responsible innovation.
The timing pressure is considerable. August 10 marks the beginning of the Senate state work period, the final date to vote the CLARITY Act into law before senators head back to their states. Should the bill fail to pass by then, it will have to wait until mid-September.Brian Gardner, chief Washington policy strategist at Stifel, wrote that the bill "probably needs to get through the Senate by the end of July" and that missing the August recess would cause its prospects to "deteriorate materially."
President Donald Trump has also renewed his support for the legislation, urging the Senate to approve the CLARITY Act and describing it as an important measure for maintaining America's technological leadership.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and tech advisor David Sacks have both voiced support for the legislation, giving it heavyweight backing from within the administration.
Sources:Bitcoin Magazine: SEC Chairman Says He's 'Committed' to Helping Advance Crypto Clarity ActLatham and Watkins: US Crypto Policy Tracker Legislative DevelopmentsBitcoin Foundation: The Clarity Act August 10 Final Deadline
