Updated
Updated · CoinDesk · May 8
Senate Banking Committee sets CLARITY Act markup hearing for May 14
Updated
Updated · CoinDesk · May 8

Senate Banking Committee sets CLARITY Act markup hearing for May 14

11 articles · Updated · CoinDesk · May 8
  • The bill had been stalled since January, but a compromise on issues including stablecoin yield cleared the way for Thursday's hearing.
  • SEC Chair Paul Atkins separately said the agency is weighing formal rules for onchain trading systems, crypto vaults and blockchain settlement as AI-driven finance expands.
  • His remarks signal a shift from Gary Gensler's enforcement-led approach, while the CLARITY Act would create a shared digital-asset framework for the SEC and CFTC.
As AI agents begin trading onchain, how will new SEC rules distinguish between automated strategies and market manipulation?
With the SEC pivoting from enforcement to rulemaking, what new systemic risks could emerge in newly regulated crypto markets?
As multiple agencies craft new crypto rules, how will they prevent regulatory gaps or conflicting guidance for businesses?

Key Senate Hearing May 14 Marks Turning Point for U.S. Stablecoin Regulatory Framework

Overview

The Senate Banking Committee's scheduling of the May 14, 2026 markup hearing marks a crucial breakthrough in advancing the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act after months of deadlock. This progress follows intensive negotiations led by Senators Tillis and Van Hollen, supported by the White House and key industry stakeholders, which produced a compromise framework allowing interest-bearing stablecoins with strong consumer protections. While this framework forces crypto firms to shift from passive yields to activity-based rewards and gains support from traditional banks, unresolved issues like ethics provisions and regulatory gaps remain. The markup hearing is a pivotal step toward resolving these challenges and moving the bill closer to enactment.

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