Trump approved the inclusion of ethical standards in the CLARITY Act: a compromise amid billion-dollar revenues
The administration of US President Donald Trump has given its principled consent to include a package of ethical restrictions in the CLARITY Act bill, which regulates the digital assets market. This decision is the result of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations aimed at defusing criticism from Democrats and ensuring the bill's passage through the Senate.
According to information obtained from insider sources, the White House has already sent the agreed-upon text to some Republican senators. The details of the package have not yet been disclosed, but the key demand of the bill's opponents is to prohibit the president, members of Congress, senior officials, and their families from profiting from the cryptocurrency business.
Democratic Pressure and Meeting with Republicans
On July 14, three Democratic senators — Chris Murphy, Jeff Merkley, and Chris Van Hollen — sharply criticized the current version of the CLARITY Act, calling it unacceptable without anti-corruption provisions. In response, on July 16, a closed-door meeting took place between Trump and key Republican senators, including Cynthia Lummis, Bernie Moreno, Thom Tillis, and Bill Hagerty. White House cryptocurrency advisor Patrick Witt and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also participated in the discussion. Democratic Party representatives were not invited to the meeting, highlighting the politicized nature of the negotiations.
Billions at Stake: Trump's Conflict of Interest
Tensions surrounding the bill are exacerbated by the president's personal financial interests. According to the 2025 income declaration, projects and assets related to the crypto industry brought Trump at least $1.4 billion. Senator Elizabeth Warren called on the head of state to voluntarily disclose income from digital assets for the first half of 2026, without waiting for the mandatory report, which is only due in May 2027. The White House, however, insists there is no conflict of interest.
It is worth recalling that the House of Representatives passed the CLARITY Act on July 17, 2025, with a vote of 294 to 134. On May 14, 2026, the Senate Banking Committee approved its version of the document (15 votes in favor, 9 against). The bill aims to clearly delineate the powers of the SEC and the CFTC in regulating digital assets, a long-standing demand of the industry. However, the new version with ethical provisions has not yet been published, and a date for plenary consideration has not been set. Negotiations must be completed before the Senate's August recess.
Analytical Commentary: Trump's agreement to ethical norms is a forced but strategically sound step. Without this compromise, the CLARITY Act had every chance of stalling in the Senate, despite the Republican majority. However, the president's billion-dollar income from the crypto industry makes him vulnerable to accusations of lobbying. The question is not whether these norms will be adopted, but how stringent they will be. If the ban on profit for officials is comprehensive, it could set a precedent for the entire US civil service system.