- The CLARITY Act faces a Senate vote today as banks continue to lobby against stablecoin yield, and division among Senators widens.
- A new poll by POLITICO found that the average American voter cares little about crypto regulations, with only 4% saying their vote would be swayed.
The big day is finally here. The US Senate will vote on the CLARITY Act later today in what industry leaders say is a defining moment for crypto in the US and beyond. However, a new poll shows that most Americans may not care as much as their leaders about crypto regulations.
The Senate Banking Committee markup session for the bill is set to start at 10:30 AM Eastern Time (that’s 4:30 PM Central European Summer Time). However, the actual vote could happen hours later, depending on how extensive the amendments and the debate will be.
🚨 One Bill. One Vote. Potentially Trillions At Stake.
The CLARITY Act heads to the Senate Banking Committee at 8 PM IST and this could shape the future of crypto in America.
Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:
Last-minute bipartisan talks reportedly collapsed over:
•… pic.twitter.com/yEqJsGGZWV— Wise Advice (@wiseadvicesumit) May 14, 2026
As we reported, the banking community has ramped up its opposition this week against crypto firms being allowed to pay yield. However, Republican Senators have stood firm against the banking ‘cartel,’ as one legislator described it.
Yesterday, members of the Senate Banking Committee were locked in a meeting late into the night seeking to find a consensus. However, according to journalist Eleanor Terrett, they could not strike a deal.
Commenting on the stalemate, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis stated:
“Ultimately, we have an agreement on 99% of the bill. I hope my colleagues across the aisle will work with me to get the remaining 1% resolved after we pass this bill out of committee. Otherwise, when or if another FTX happens, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.”
The big talking point between the two sides has been on an ethics provision that bars legislators and other politicians from enriching themselves through crypto. However. Terrett says that both Democrats and Republicans found some common ground on this issue. The provision that threatened this newfound partnership was the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), which protects non-custodial wallet operators from prosecution as money transmitters.
Terrett added:
“Of course, it’s still unclear how the five pro-crypto Democrats on the Banking Committee will ultimately vote tomorrow, but as of now, the expectation is that the markup will be partisan.”
Ripple, Aave, Coinbase Back CLARITY Act, But Do Americans Care?
The CLARITY Act has received overwhelming support in crypto circles, even from parties that had previously opposed certain provisions.
Ripple CEO said yesterday that the pace at which the Banking Committee is moving shows “incredible leadership.” He claimed that the company is backing the CLARITY Act “because [American investors] deserve the same rules and protections as every other asset class.”
The Senate Banking Committee is putting in the work as it moves the Clarity Act forward… incredible leadership!
Millions of Americans are already in this market. Ripple stands behind this bill because they deserve the same rules and protections as every other asset class. If… https://t.co/orvdQHDbEz
— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) May 13, 2026
Aave founder Stani Kulechov also voiced his support. In particular, he pointed out how important the Act will be for DeFi.
He stated:
“The Clarity Act is fundamental to giving DeFi developers the confidence to build in the US, backed by strong developer protections. If the US wants to lead in DeFi, the framework must preserve the ability to build and maintain decentralized protocols without imposing unworkable obligations on DeFi developers.”
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong also expressed the exchange’s support for the bill. In an interview with FOX Business yesterday, he said that once the bill passes, “we are all going to be able to work together a little bit more collaboratively.”
Today's vote on the Clarity Act is a big opportunity to move America's financial system forward. https://t.co/H9nSuofn0g pic.twitter.com/My142qgdFK
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) May 14, 2026
But while dozens of crypto leaders and lawmakers reiterate how important the bill is, a new poll claims that the average American does not care as much. A survey conducted by UK-based polling firm Public First and commissioned by POLITICO found that only 4% of voters would consider a candidate’s crypto stance in this year’s midterms.
While some used the study to dismiss crypto’s impact in the US, Sen. Lummis interpreted it as ‘crypto is important, but there are more pressing issues.’ She stated:
“For the industry, this is a big step forward, because it does really help embed this industry in the U.S. But for the average person, I mean, they’re thinking about the fact that gasoline is $4.18 in Wyoming.”
