The U.S. Senate rejected the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on Tuesday, failing to secure the 60 votes required to proceed to formal debate. The final tally was 49 votes in favor and 50 against, effectively stalling the legislation for the remainder of 2026 as the Senate calendar nears its close.
Bitcoin prices reacted to the news, dropping from a session high of $77 200 to a low of $75 600. The asset traded near $75 800 following the vote, marking a decline of approximately 3.2% for the day. Market participants had anticipated the outcome, with Polymarket odds for the bill's passage falling to 17% prior to the session.
Negotiations stalled over three primary issues: bank concerns regarding stablecoin yields, Democratic demands for conflict-of-interest rules, and developer liability for non-custodial tools. Despite Republicans introducing a 630-page revised draft, the bill failed to attract the necessary support from Democratic senators.
Senator Cynthia Lummis, the lead Republican negotiator, indicated that the failure likely marks the end of legislative efforts for this session. The Digital Chamber described the result as a setback and stated that it will continue to advocate for comprehensive digital asset regulation in the future.
