The US Senate is preparing to move forward with the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act, with lawmakers targeting a committee markup in the second half of April.
Recent statements from Senator Cynthia Lummis suggest final legislative text could be released within days, signaling that negotiations have entered their final phase.
However, the bill advancing toward markup looks materially different from earlier drafts.
BREAKING: The U.S. Senate has confirmed an April markup for the CLARITY Act.
Senate markup is confirmed for the second half of April. Final passage is targeted for May and Senator Moreno has warned that if the bill does not pass by then, digital asset legislation will not… pic.twitter.com/OKFv2OIxZa
— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) March 30, 2026
The CLARITY Act Has Changed a Lot
Over the past month, lawmakers have resolved the most contentious issue: stablecoin yield.
The latest compromise effectively bans passive yield on stablecoin balances, aligning with demands from the banking sector.
In exchange, the bill is expected to allow limited, activity-based rewards tied to payments or platform usage.
This marks a clear shift from earlier proposals that left room for broader yield distribution. Crypto firms had pushed to preserve yield as a core user incentive, but that position has largely been sacrificed to secure bipartisan support.
THE CLARITY ACT IS DONE. 🚨
Lummis just confirmed it.
Text dropping NEXT WEEK.DeFi protected.
Stablecoin yield unlocked.
Institutional barriers gone.One bill. Every problem solved.
Years of regulatory uncertainty.Ended.
Next week.The text drops next week.… pic.twitter.com/2grVMOG0vV
— Crypto Tice (@CryptoTice_) March 29, 2026
Crypto Industry Sacrificed Passive Income for DeFi Protection
At the same time, lawmakers have moved to strengthen protections for decentralized finance (DeFi). Updated language is expected to clarify that developers and non-custodial protocols are not treated as financial intermediaries.
This addresses industry concerns that earlier drafts could impose bank-like compliance obligations on software builders.
Meanwhile, the bill’s core structure remains intact. It still establishes a formal split between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, giving the CFTC authority over digital commodities and preserving SEC oversight of investment contract assets.
Why is Washington fighting so hard over the CLARITY Act?
Because this bill decides who regulates crypto in America.
The next battle is in the Senate Banking Committee and the clock is ticking.@AnolShaeed reports. pic.twitter.com/JRQwJGOVeq
— BeInCrypto (@beincrypto) February 12, 2026
Even so, political pressure is shaping the timeline. Senator Bernie Moreno has warned that if the bill does not pass by May, broader digital asset legislation may stall until after the 2026 midterm cycle.
As a result, lawmakers are now balancing speed with compromise. The CLARITY Act may deliver long-sought regulatory clarity, but only after the industry gives up some of its most contested features.
