Thom Tillis Backs Advancing CLARITY Act After White House Ethics Changes

Sen. Thom Tillis said he would support moving the CLARITY Act forward after the White House agreed to changes addressing ethics concerns surrounding the cryptocurrency market structure bill, according to Coin Bureau, citing Punchbowl News reporter Brendan Pedersen.

Tillis said he was “very pleased” with what the White House delivered on the ethics provisions and urged senators to allow the legislation to proceed to the amendment stage. His position comes after months of negotiations over how the bill should address potential conflicts involving federal officials and digital assets.

Thom Tillis Calls for Amendments Before Final Passage

Tillis said lawmakers should use the financial amendment process to address unresolved concerns rather than block the bill at the procedural stage. He indicated that senators could ultimately vote against final passage if their objections remain unresolved after amendments are considered.

The comments came as Senate Republicans released revised CLARITY Act text incorporating substantial changes sought by Democrats. The September 14 draft included 126 substantive changes and incorporated much of the bipartisan ethics proposal developed by Tillis and Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego. The revisions also gave state attorneys general a role in enforcing certain ethics provisions.

The ethics provisions have been one of the central obstacles cryptocurrency to advancing the legislation. Negotiations have focused in part on restrictions affecting federal officials who issue or sponsor digital assets, alongside enforcement mechanisms intended to address potential conflicts of interest.

CLARITY Act Faces Broader Senate Disagreements

The bill covers more than ethics rules. Recent negotiations have also involved stablecoin rewards, decentralized finance and the division of regulatory authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Earlier versions faced opposition from lawmakers across both parties over different provisions.

Tillis’ support for advancing the measure does not guarantee passage. His comments instead point to a legislative strategy in which unresolved disputes could be debated through amendments before senators decide whether to support the final bill.

The Senate's procedural vote remains the immediate test for the legislation. The bill requires 60 votes to advance, making the level of bipartisan markets support critical as lawmakers determine which provisions can command broader agreement.

Writer: Victoria Hale
Technology & Blockchain Writer

Victoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.

She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.