A bipartisan pair of senators is rewriting the ethics provisions of a bill tied to the Clarity Act's cryptocurrency limits, aiming to harden a concession made under the Trump administration and lock down the votes needed for passage.
The ethics overhaul
The two senators — one Democrat, one Republican — are focused on the ethics section of the legislation. Their goal is to toughen the language around crypto limits that were softened during Trump's term. The revamp is meant to address concerns from both sides of the aisle that the original ethics framework was too weak.
The Clarity Act, which sets boundaries for crypto regulation, has been a contentious piece of legislation. Trump's concession on crypto limits was seen by some as a necessary compromise, but critics argued it opened the door to conflicts of interest. By strengthening the ethics section, the duo hopes to win over skeptical lawmakers who want stricter guardrails.
The vote math
Securing enough yes votes has been a challenge. The revamped ethics language is designed to give cover to moderate senators who were on the fence. If the changes hold, the bill could clear the Senate with bipartisan support. The timing is tight — the legislative calendar is crowded, and both senators are pushing for a vote before the August recess.
The revised ethics text is expected to be circulated to committee members later this week. A markup session could follow within days. The duo is also in talks with leadership to schedule floor time. Whether the changes are enough to flip the remaining undecided votes remains the open question.
