US Lawmakers and Prosecutors Debate Changes to Digital Asset Market Clarity Act
Law‑enforcement advocacy groups – the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys and the National District Attorneys Association – wrote to the White House urging revisions to the developer‑liability language in the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA) portion of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. The White House crypto adviser, Patrick Witt, said the proposals are "far from the administration’s position" and not a product of productive negotiation.
The bill, which passed the House in July 2025, requires a Senate vote before the August recess. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has signaled that a vote is unlikely before the chamber recesses, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, along with other bipartisan senators such as Cynthia Lummis, Thom Tillis and Ruben Gallego, have pushed ethics amendments and tighter conflict‑of‑interest rules. The Solana Policy Institute also sent a letter to Senate leaders urging an early vote.
Supporters argue the act will bring regulatory certainty to developers and investors, while critics worry the developer‑protection language could affect criminal liability. The legislation remains pending in the Senate as the August recess approaches.
Entities: Catherine Cortez Masto · Cynthia Lummis · Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act · John Thune · National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys · Patrick Witt · Solana Policy Institute · U.S. Senate · White House
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The CLARITY Act’s BRCA section includes a developer‑protection clause that shields blockchain software developers from federal criminal liability. (Legislation text)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The National Association of Assistant US Attorneys and the National District Attorneys Association sent a letter to the White House asking for changes to the developer guidance language in the BRCA of (CLARITY Act)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Senators Thom Tillis and Ruben Gallego drafted a stricter ethics amendment to the CLARITY Act targeting officials’ crypto holdings. (Senators Tillis and Gallego)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Senator Cynthia Lummis defended the CLARITY Act, saying it benefits consumers and has bipartisan support. (Senator Lummis)
- [● 2 SOURCES] White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt said the proposed developer‑clause changes are “not even close” to the administration’s position. (White House)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Senate Majority Leader John Thune said a CLARITY Act vote before the August recess is unlikely. (Senate leadership)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The CLARITY Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2025. (Congressional record)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Solana Policy Institute sent a letter to Senate leaders urging an early vote on the CLARITY Act. (Solana Policy Institute)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The CLARITY Act passed the House in July 2025 and awaits a Senate vote before the August recess. (bcb7bf74-a5f2-4493-b3b5-41437d67730e, 03ff59e0-47b6-4988-815e-dbe009a29e3c, 74ce4a3c-5d77-485b-b203-f4382df248be)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Law‑enforcement groups sent a letter to the White House requesting changes to developer‑liability language in the CLARITY Act’s BRCA provision. (bcb7bf74-a5f2-4493-b3b5-41437d67730e, 03ff59e0-47b6-4988-815e-dbe009a29e3c, ba86fecb-365c-4c2c-8bb4-c2257d81e3e9, aa9bc6)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Solana Policy Institute sent a letter to Senate leaders urging an early vote on the CLARITY Act before the August recess. (e8bf3898-b245-4a42-a991-4ce65d00d9e3)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated the Senate is unlikely to vote on the CLARITY Act before the August recess. (bcb7bf74-a5f2-4493-b3b5-41437d67730e, 03ff59e0-47b6-4988-815e-dbe009a29e3c)