Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego has called on US lawmakers to advance the CLARITY Act, citing the bipartisan progress achieved with the GENIUS Act as evidence Congress can deliver regulatory clarity for the digital assets industry. Gallego, who represents Arizona, made his remarks at the 2026 Wyoming Blockchain Symposium in Jackson Hole, an invitation-only event hosted by SALT and major crypto exchange Kraken.
CLARITY Act in focus at blockchain symposium
During his address, Gallego emphasized that Congress has both the precedent and the necessary tools to move forward with the CLARITY Act, a bill with vital implications for $XRP holders and the wider cryptocurrency market. The CLARITY Act aims to establish clear legal guidelines for digital asset market structure and regulatory oversight in the United States.
Referencing the successful passage of the GENIUS Act, Gallego told attendees that he believes legislative momentum can carry into this new effort. He noted that the GENIUS Act, which addressed stablecoin regulation, faced pessimistic forecasts early on regarding its chances of passing with bipartisan support.
He explained that applying the same collaborative approach seen in the GENIUS Act would be critical: “If we keep the same attitude we have from the GENIUS Act and bring this over to market structure, we can land this plane.”
The GENIUS Act, which established a regulatory framework for stablecoins, ultimately passed with the backing of 19 Democratic senators. Gallego attributed this outcome to the willingness of both parties to persist through legislative disagreements.
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AAPLMini dictionary: GENIUS Act, a US federal bill that provides a comprehensive legal framework for stablecoin issuance and oversight, aiming to bring regulatory clarity to the stablecoin market.
Bipartisan negotiation and Gallego’s key role
Senator Gallego has been one of the main Democratic figures advancing the CLARITY Act. He is one of only two Democratic senators who voted to advance the bill out of committee, making his support pivotal to reaching the 60-vote threshold needed for passage in the Senate.
He has worked closely with Republican Senator Thom Tillis to negotiate the bill’s ethics language, submitting compromise proposals to the White House before the Senate’s August recess. According to Gallego, the White House responses did not provide adequate or comprehensive safeguards. As a result, he continues to press for stronger ethics provisions as a key condition for his support.
Gallego warned that some political factions on both sides of the aisle may prefer the bill to stall in order to leverage digital asset regulation as a political issue, rather than pushing it through for substantive reform. He spoke candidly to the Wyoming audience about the risks of partisan roadblocks, saying that elements on the left and right may benefit from inaction.
He described that some lawmakers “would love not to land this plane to make this a political issue, both on the left and on the right.”
Senate timetable and next steps
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has confirmed that the chamber decided to postpone the vote, scheduling it for after the summer recess. The CLARITY Act will be on the Senate’s agenda when lawmakers return in September. Gallego expressed concern that rushing to a vote before finalizing negotiations might undermine the bill’s prospects and long-term effectiveness. He remains engaged in discussions with colleagues and continues to advocate for passage of the act.
