A group of 61 crypto industry leaders, founders, and investors is pressing Senate leaders to pass the CLARITY Act — but they want developer protections preserved as the bill moves forward. The push comes days after the Senate Banking Committee voted to approve the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), which aims to clarify regulatory rules for crypto developers and service providers. Together, the developments signal a busy month for crypto legislation on Capitol Hill.
The CLARITY Act letter
The letter, signed by 61 prominent figures across the crypto space, landed on Senate desks this week. It urges passage of the CLARITY Act while warning that stripping out safeguards for developers could chill innovation. The signatories include founders of major protocols, venture investors, and exchange executives — a broad coalition that rarely agrees on a single ask. Their core message: regulate, but don't punish the people building the software.
What BRCA does
The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, approved by the Banking Committee on Tuesday, takes a narrower approach. It defines when blockchain developers and service providers fall under existing financial regulations and when they don't. Supporters say it gives clear rules of the road. Critics worry it leaves too much discretion to regulators. The committee vote was along party lines, with all Republicans backing the bill and Democrats abstaining or opposing.
Developer protections at stake
The tension between the two bills is subtle but real. The CLARITY Act goes further in shielding non-custodial software developers from being classified as money transmitters. The BRCA doesn't explicitly include that carve-out. That's why the 61 signatories are making noise now — they fear the final version might drop those protections. “It's not about avoiding oversight,” one of the signers said in a statement released alongside the letter. “It's about not treating a coder like a bank.” The statement is the only direct quote available; the letter itself has not been published in full.
What happens next
Both bills now head to the full Senate floor, though no vote has been scheduled. The CLARITY Act has broader bipartisan support in the House, where it passed last month. The Senate calendar is tight, with the August recess looming. Industry lobbyists expect markups and amendments, particularly around the developer definition. The unresolved question: can lawmakers thread the needle between regulatory clarity and developer freedom before the session ends?
