Tim Scott: Warren’s Team Wants to ‘Run Crypto Out of the Country’ as CLARITY Act Stalls

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott has drawn a sharp line. At the SALT Conference in Wyoming on August 18, Scott accused Democrats of deliberately blocking the CLARITY Act.

He warned it would never pass without direct Republican pressure.

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What Is the CLARITY Act, and Why Does It Matter?

The CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633) is Washington’s most ambitious attempt yet to settle SEC-vs-CFTC jurisdiction over digital assets.

Under the bill, most digital commodities would fall primarily under CFTC oversight. It sets registration rules for exchanges, brokers, and dealers.

It also carves out safe harbors for developers and adds AML and consumer-protection provisions.

The remarks, amplified August 20 by CoinMarketCap on X, arrive at a critical legislative moment.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has scheduled a cloture vote on the motion to proceed for September 15, 2026, a threshold that requires 60 votes to clear.

Scott stated that “Elizabeth Warren’s team wants to run Bitcoin and crypto out of the country,” per his official SALT post on X.

He added that Democrats keep moving the goalposts for political points.

The future of finance should be built in America.

It was great to speak at the SALT Conference alongside @SenLummis to discuss why passing the Clarity Act is critical to U.S. competitiveness, consumer protection, and keeping digital asset innovation here at home.

I’m focused on… pic.twitter.com/2J3nc80uQG

— Senator Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) August 18, 2026

The House passed a version in July 2025, 294 to 134. The Senate Banking Committee advanced its version 15-9 in May 2026. Two Democrats crossed over.

A merged ~600-page text has been released, but sticking points remain on ethics provisions and stablecoin yield rules.

Industry leaders have taken note. Both Ripple and Coinbase CEOs recently highlighted CLARITY Act progress toward a final ethics deal, with Trump hinting at a compromise that could unlock Democratic votes.

Earlier this summer, the White House convened a crypto summit with SEC and CFTC officials in a bid to break the stalemate. The partisan gap has persisted regardless.

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Warren’s Block, September Odds, and the Investor Stakes

Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and aligned Democrats have consistently resisted the current CLARITY Act drafts.

Their objections cite insufficient investor protections, national-security gaps, and weak ethics restrictions on elected officials, including Trump family crypto holdings.

Some moderate Democrats push for more negotiation rather than a rushed vote.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently urged Congress to act fast, warning that the U.S. is falling behind global competitors on crypto regulation.

His call echoes a growing chorus of voices across both parties.

Markets have already priced in doubt. Galaxy Research slashed its CLARITY Act 2026 passage odds to just 10%.

Analysts warn the SEC and CFTC are racing to fill the void through agency rulemaking, a path reversible by any future administration.

The legislative uncertainty is already moving asset prices. Circle stock recently fell on a Morgan Stanley downgrade tied to CLARITY Act uncertainty, underscoring how closely institutional money is watching September 15.

Paradoxically, experts warn that CLARITY Act failure could let the Trump SEC fast-track crypto rules unilaterally.

That outcome would give Democrats even less leverage than a negotiated bill. With the CLARITY Act now racing the clock against election recess.

Scott’s SALT remarks make one thing clear: September 15 is the defining moment for U.S. crypto regulation in 2026.

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