The US Senate Banking Committee released a 309-page draft of the crypto Clarity Act, expanding on the 278-page version it circulated in January. The framework keeps the core jurisdictional split: the SEC oversees most crypto token sales, while the CFTC regulates the trading that follows once those tokens are already in the market.
Why it matters
The new draft layers in explicit investor-protection language, granting the SEC antifraud and insider-trading authority over certain crypto offerings. On stablecoins, the bill targets platforms that offer bank-style yield simply for holding payment stablecoins in an account, while still permitting rewards tied to genuine on-chain activity — transactions, liquidity provision, staking, governance, and loyalty programs. The tokenization section was also tightened, dropping broader "real-world assets" framing in favor of language aimed more directly at tokenized securities.
Market impact
The jurisdictional split remains the load-bearing piece for US crypto markets: a clearer SEC-vs-CFTC line is the precondition institutional desks have been waiting for before expanding custody, derivatives, and tokenized-product offerings. The stablecoin yield carve-out preserves the DeFi reward model while closing the payment-stablecoin passthrough that drew scrutiny after 2023. The draft also tucks in the unrelated "Build Now Act" housing provision — a legislative vehicle move aimed at rounding up votes rather than a crypto policy signal.
Source: [source](https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/ehf26374.pdf)
Frequently asked questions
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What is the crypto Clarity Act?
It is a US Senate Banking Committee draft bill that defines how crypto tokens and trading are regulated, assigning most token sales to the SEC and most post-listing trading to the CFTC, with added investor-protection and stablecoin provisions.
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What does the new draft change compared to the January version?
The 309-page draft expands on the 278-page version by adding SEC antifraud and insider-trading authority for certain crypto offerings, tightening tokenization language to focus on tokenized securities, and targeting bank-style yield on payment stablecoins.
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How does the bill treat stablecoin yield?
The draft aims to stop platforms from offering bank-style yield for simply holding payment stablecoins in an account, but leaves room for rewards tied to real crypto activity such as transactions, liquidity provision, staking, governance, and loyalty programs.
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What is the SEC vs CFTC split in the Clarity Act?
The bill keeps the framework from earlier drafts: the SEC oversees most crypto token sales, while the CFTC oversees the trading that happens after those tokens are already in the market.
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What is the Build Now Act inclusion in the crypto bill?
The Build Now Act is an unrelated housing provision tucked into the Clarity Act draft. Its inclusion is viewed as a legislative vehicle move to gather votes rather than a crypto policy signal.
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