Alsobrooks Says Clarity Act Still Needs Ethics Deal Before Senate Vote

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks said the Clarity Act still needs an ethics agreement before she would support it in a full Senate vote, according to CoinDesk. The Maryland Democrat said bipartisan crypto negotiations are close, but unresolved issues remain around ethics, illicit finance provisions and work still pending in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

The development matters because the Clarity Act is part of Congress’s broader push to set rules for digital assets at a time when crypto ownership has become more common among Americans. Alsobrooks framed regulation as a consumer protection issue as well as an effort to keep the U.S. competitive in digital asset innovation.

Alsobrooks said her vote to advance the bill in committee should not be read as unconditional support for final passage. She described it as support for keeping bipartisan talks alive while lawmakers continue working through provisions that could determine whether the bill can clear the Senate.

The senator also defended compromise language around stablecoin yield, an issue that has drawn criticism from parts of the banking industry. She said negotiators spent months shaping language meant to prevent crypto firms from paying yield solely on stablecoin balances or offering products that resemble bank accounts without similar protections.

Alsobrooks suggested Democratic concerns are focused less on blockchain technology itself than on ethics, corruption, fraud and consumer harm. She cited concerns related to President Trump’s business interests and said lawmakers are still trying to ensure constituents have a voice in the final shape of the rules.

Before the bill can move forward, negotiators still need to settle ethics language, illicit finance provisions associated with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s priorities, and a bipartisan agreement in the Agriculture Committee. Until then, Alsobrooks said the legislation is not ready for a final Senate vote.