Clarity Act Update: Donald Trump Meets Advisers Before Sept. 15 Senate Vote

TLDR:

• Trump met advisers on Sept. 11 to discuss ethics provisions tied to the CLARITY Act.
• The Senate will hold a Sept. 15 cloture vote on H.R. 3633, with 60 votes generally required.
• The revised draft adds new DeFi registration rules and clearer authority for credit unions.
• Ethics rules and stablecoin rewards remain unresolved as senators prepare for the procedural vote.

President Donald Trump met advisers on September 11 to discuss ethics provisions tied to the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. The meeting came before the Senate’s September 15 procedural vote on the crypto market structure bill. Details about any decisions were not publicly disclosed. Ethics rules remain a major issue.

The Senate vote is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET on September 15. Senators will consider cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3633. The vote would open debate and allow amendments. It would not approve the bill.

Donald Trump Meeting Keeps Ethics Talks in Focus

Democrats have sought stronger restrictions on digital asset activity by federal officials and their families. Their proposals have targeted issuing, sponsoring, or profiting from some crypto businesses. Republicans and the White House have supported narrower language.

White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt said the administration had already accepted an ethics provision. He said it restricts federal officials from issuing or sponsoring digital assets. Witt also said talks with Senators Thom Tillis and Ruben Gallego were continuing.

The outcome of Trump’s Friday meeting was not disclosed. Ethics language remains unsettled before the scheduled vote. The issue could still change through amendments if the Senate agrees to proceed.

The cloture motion generally needs 60 votes in the 100-member Senate. Republicans hold 53 seats, so Democratic or independent support is needed if Republicans remain united.

The Senate Daily Press said the cloture motion will ripen at 2:15 p.m. on September 15. A successful vote would move the bill toward floor debate. A failed vote would stop the scheduled process, although leaders could try another route.

Witt urged senators to support the procedural step and continue negotiations. He told Semafor, “Get on the bill and let’s keep talking.” Witt said a failed motion would not settle the remaining disputes.

Revised Draft Adds DeFi and Credit Union Changes

Senator Cynthia Lummis released a revised draft on September 10. The text includes more than 100 changes requested by Democrats. Published reports said the draft incorporated 114 Democratic proposals or provisions.

The draft would require certain non-decentralized trading protocols to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It also narrows some DeFi rules to spot and cash digital commodity transactions. The text gives credit unions clearer authority for digital asset services.

However, the crypto bill draft did not settle every dispute. Ethics rules, stablecoin rewards, anti-money laundering requirements, and other issues remain under negotiation. Enough Democratic senators had not publicly committed to guarantee cloture as of September 13.

The CLARITY Act would create a federal framework for digital asset markets. It would divide responsibilities between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The bill also covers intermediaries, custody, trading platforms, and selected DeFi activities.

The House passed its version in July 2025, and the Senate is considering revised text. If cloture succeeds, senators can debate amendments before any final passage vote. The September 15 vote only decides whether the Senate will formally take up the measure.

Negotiations over ethics and other disputed provisions can continue if the motion receives enough support.

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