CoinDesk
Crypto firms and trade groups spent about $8 million lobbying for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in the first half of 2026, but the bill failed to advance in the Senate. The industry spent more than $13 million on lobbying overall during the six-month period, according to a review of federal disclosures.
Why it matters
The spending was a concentrated push for legislation that could establish a US oversight framework for digital asset markets. The disclosed $8 million included about $2.4 million for outside lobbying firms and $2.1 million for trade associations' in-house lobbyists, with the remainder attributed to crypto companies' own lobbying operations. Disclosure descriptions do not always specify which legislation or issues the spending covered.
Coinbase spent about $2.2 million on lobbying that included advocacy for the bill, while Kraken spent almost $1 million. Digital Currency Group, Jump Crypto and Paradigm were also among the major spenders tied to the legislative effort. Coinbase ranked among the top 10 spenders in the broader securities and investment lobbying category, above Goldman Sachs and Andreessen Horowitz, according to OpenSecrets.
Market impact
The Senate setback leaves the industry's push for a federal market-structure law without the result lobbyists sought. The article describes the bill as having reached further than previous crypto legislation, with bipartisan agreements that could inform a later effort, but the timing of another attempt remains uncertain.
Lobbying is also moving toward the SEC and CFTC as the agencies develop crypto rules. The Blockchain Association said its members met congressional staff and federal officials more than 380 times, and that it plans to deepen its work with the regulators. The disclosures show the scale of the industry's effort, but not a single unified strategy: the lobbying involved at least 42 outside firms, and industry critics pointed to internal divisions over policy priorities.
Frequently asked questions
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How much did the crypto industry spend lobbying overall in the first half of 2026?
The industry spent more than $13 million on lobbying during the six-month period. About $8 million was linked to the Clarity Act effort.
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How was the $8 million Clarity Act lobbying effort divided?
About $2.4 million went to outside lobbying firms and $2.1 million to trade associations' in-house lobbyists. The rest supported crypto companies' own lobbying operations.
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Which companies were among the largest Clarity Act lobbyists?
Coinbase spent about $2.2 million on lobbying that included advocacy for the bill, and Kraken spent almost $1 million. Digital Currency Group, Jump Crypto and Paradigm were also major spenders.
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What happens to the industry's US policy efforts after the Senate setback?
The article says lobbyists are continuing work with the SEC and CFTC as the agencies develop crypto rules. The timing of another legislative effort remains uncertain.
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What did the lobbying disclosures reveal about the industry's approach?
Crypto-related lobbying money went to at least 42 outside firms. Industry critics also described internal divisions over significant policy decisions.
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