President Donald Trump is weighing a bipartisan ethics counteroffer for the CLARITY Act, according to a report from crypto policy journalist Eleanor Terrett on August 1. The move comes as Senate negotiators race to finalize crypto conflict-of-interest rules before the August recess. The CLARITY Act faces an August deadline for finalization.
The ethics counteroffer
Terrett reported that Trump is considering a bipartisan proposal aimed at resolving outstanding ethics concerns in the bill. The counteroffer would address conflict-of-interest provisions that have been a sticking point in negotiations. Lawmakers from both parties have been working on the language for weeks.
Senate timeline
Senate negotiators are under pressure to wrap up work before the chamber breaks for its August recess. The exact date of the recess isn't set, but it typically begins in the second half of the month. That leaves a narrow window to finalize the CLARITY Act's ethics rules and send the bill to the president's desk.
What's at stake
The CLARITY Act would establish federal standards for crypto asset classification and trading. The conflict-of-interest rules are a key piece — they aim to prevent lawmakers and executive branch officials from owning or trading digital assets that could be affected by their policy decisions. Without a deal, the bill could stall.
Next steps
Trump's decision on the counteroffer will determine whether the bipartisan compromise holds. If he accepts it, Senate leaders could move quickly to attach the language and pass the bill. If he rejects it, negotiators will have to go back to the drawing board — with the August recess clock ticking.
