Crypto Czar David Sacks Declares: CLARITY Act Senate Markup Set for January 2026

Mark your calendars. The long-awaited legislative showdown for crypto's future has a date.

Washington's gears are grinding toward a pivotal moment. The CLARITY Act—a bill promising to untangle the regulatory spaghetti strangling digital assets—is officially slated for Senate committee markup in January 2026. This isn't just another hearing; it's the first real step toward turning proposal into law.

The Timeline Takes Shape

For an industry used to 'soon' and 'pending,' a concrete date is a seismic shift. The January 2026 target, championed by influential voices like David Sacks, signals that behind-the-scenes political capital is being spent. It moves the debate from theoretical white papers to the tangible markup process, where amendments are made, and bills are shaped for a floor vote.

Why This Markup Matters

Committee markup is where legislation lives or dies. It's the crucible. Lawmakers will dissect the CLARITY Act line by line, debating which digital assets are commodities, which are securities, and who gets to police the frontier. The outcome will either build a runway for U.S. innovation or cement regulatory ambiguity that pushes the next wave of projects offshore. The clock starts now for lobbyists to make their case.

A Provocative Finish

This scheduled markup throws a gauntlet down for both crypto advocates and its skeptics. It forces the issue out of regulatory purgatory and onto a legislative calendar. The financial establishment might scoff—after all, in D.C. time, 2026 is an eternity, perfect for kicking the can down the road while collecting lobbying fees. But for an industry starving for rules of the road, a defined battle date is the clearest signal yet that the political winds are shifting. The fight for clarity, finally, has a deadline.

What is the CLARITY Act? 

It is also known as the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, is new legislation introduced in May 2025. Its goal is simple: to clear up confusion about how cryptocurrencies should be regulated. Presently, there are two main government bodies involved in crypto regulation: the SEC and the CFTC. But it is not always clear which one is responsible for what. 

The CLARITY Act tries to change that. The bill proposes that Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies would fall under the category of commodities, hence under the regulation of the CFTC, while investment tokens would come under the ambit of the SEC. This bill would go a long way in making the rules clear so that digital assets companies know exactly what to expect.

Senate Markup: What's the Next Step?

The bill has already passed the House of Representatives in July 2025 and is currently pending action in the Senate. During this stage, Senate committees are expected to examine, modify, and further improve the proposed legislation before a vote in a full Senate session. 

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The White House AI and crypto czar, David Sacks recently tweeted an update confirming that Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott and Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman have confirmed that the markup for the CLARITY Act is set for January. Sacks thanked them for their leadership, along with Rep. French Hill and Rep. GT in the House, emphasizing that the U.S. is closer than ever to passing this landmark crypto market structure legislation.

What Does This Mean for the U.S. Crypto Market?

It could be a big deal for how cryptocurrencies are regulated in the U.S., since right now the rules are a bit of a mess and businesses don't always know which regulations apply to them. With the passage of the CLARITY Act, things could be a lot more predictable, which is great for innovation and investment.

The U.S. has been playing catch-up when it comes to crypto regulations. Other countries, like the European Union, have already established a clear framework of their own, putting them one step ahead. If this bill after the GENIUS Act were to make their way into law, then that gap WOULD be closed, and the U.S. would take the lead in digital assets regulation. 

What's Next?

As the bill heads into markup this January, it's a MOVE the crypto community continues to watch with bated breath. This will indeed be the principal move towards the creation of clear and fair rules in the digital asset market. As all goes according to plan, the CLARITY Act will advance in the Senate and could potentially even be signed into law later in 2026. 

While some regulators have expressed apprehension over the bill, it has broad bipartisan support and thus is likely to pass. When signed into law, it may finally give clarity to the crypto market, finally establishing rules that businesses and investors alike can confidently follow. 

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