Senate Democrats Stall Crypto Act Over Presidential Ethics Rules

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act is currently stalled in the U.S. Senate as Democrats demand strict ethics provisions before granting their support. Led by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeff Merkley, the group seeks to prohibit sitting presidents, members of Congress, and their spouses from issuing, owning, or profiting from digital assets.

This legislative deadlock follows financial disclosures revealing that Donald Trump earned approximately $1.4 billion from the crypto sector in 2025, with $636 million stemming from the issuance of the TRUMP memecoin. These figures have prompted Democratic lawmakers to condition their votes on rules that would make it illegal for presidents to sponsor or issue digital assets.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune intends to bring the bill to a floor vote this month before the August recess. However, the legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and still faces unresolved disputes regarding stablecoin rewards and developer protections. Prediction market odds for the bill passing within the year have fallen to 39%.