TLDR
- Brian Armstrong expects the CLARITY Act to secure more than 60 Senate votes on September 15.
- The September 15 cloture vote requires 60 senators to advance the CLARITY Act in Congress.
- Armstrong expects SEC and CFTC crypto rules to advance if the CLARITY Act remains stalled.
- The CLARITY Act would establish clearer regulatory roles for the SEC and CFTC over digital assets.
- Ethics provisions remain a key dispute as lawmakers negotiate the Senate version of the CLARITY Act.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expects September to bring clearer U.S. crypto rules, either through the CLARITY Act in Congress or separate regulatory action from the SEC and CFTC.
Armstrong Expects CLARITY Act to Clear Senate
Armstrong said he expects the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act to receive the 60 Senate votes needed to advance when lawmakers vote on September 15. The legislation would establish a federal framework for digital assets and define regulatory responsibilities between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The House passed its version of the legislation last year, but negotiations in the Senate have continued over several provisions. Armstrong said the current regulatory environment leaves companies and consumers without clear rules governing many crypto products.
“The current status quo today is that there isn’t much clarity about what the rules are,” Armstrong said. He argued that the legislation would add consumer protections and give law enforcement more tools to address illicit activity.
Armstrong also said clearer rules could support stablecoin rewards, crypto-based capital raising and securities issuance. He cited the collapse of FTX as an example of why stronger protections for customers remain necessary.
SEC and CFTC Could Move Without Congress
Armstrong said regulatory clarity could still arrive quickly even if the Senate fails to advance the CLARITY Act. Under that scenario, he expects the SEC and CFTC to move forward with their own crypto market rules as early as September 16.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig has already said his agency is preparing to use its existing authority if Congress does not pass the legislation. The CFTC is considering rules that could allow crypto trading platforms to operate under a defined federal framework while providing a legal route for developers to offer decentralized protocols.
The SEC is also working on separate digital asset rules. The agency has proposed Regulation Crypto Assets, a framework designed to create tailored fundraising exemptions for qualifying token issuers. The proposal would provide a regulated path for certain crypto projects to raise capital in the United States.
Ethics Rules Remain a Senate Sticking Point
Ethics provisions involving President Donald Trump’s crypto interests remain part of negotiations surrounding the CLARITY Act. Armstrong said the White House has proposed ethics language that could be incorporated into the final legislation.
Some Democratic lawmakers are seeking stronger restrictions. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has argued that the proposed framework does not go far enough to prevent elected officials from benefiting financially from crypto ventures.
Trump has called on Congress to approve the legislation, describing the CLARITY Act as a way to establish structured rules while keeping the United States competitive in digital assets.
Armstrong remains optimistic about the Senate vote despite the unresolved disputes. “I’m pretty optimistic it’ll get over 60 votes,” he said.
The Coinbase CEO also expects clearer regulation to arrive regardless of the vote’s outcome, placing September 15 at the center of the next stage of U.S. crypto policy.
