The CLARITY Act gains momentum as Patrick Witt occupies the White House
White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt will remain in his post after his military training was postponed, keeping the administration’s lead negotiator for the CLARITY Act in Washington during the final weeks before the Senate’s summer recess.
Summary
- Patrick Witt has postponed military training, keeping the CLARITY Act’s lead negotiator in place.
- The Senate faces a tight timeline as unresolved ethics language still threatens a vote on the bill.
- Harry Jung plans to leave the government, removing the deputy expected to fill in Witt’s absence.
Witt was scheduled to begin Judge Advocate General training with the Georgia Army National Guard on July 27.
Witt confirmed this change in a letter dated 20 X. He said he remains committed to his military service but added that “my training has been postponed, and I will be able to see this effort through to the end.” The decision reverses a plan that would have transferred many of his responsibilities to White House Crypto Council deputy director Harry Jung.
Witt stays as the Senate calendar winds down
Witt serves as the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Digital Assets and has played a key role in discussions involving the White House, lawmakers, banks and crypto companies. As previously reported by crypto.news, he had already postponed the same training in April while the CLARITY Act negotiations were ongoing.
The Senate now has little space left on its calendar. Aug. 7 is the last day of the scheduled session before the state work period begins on Aug. 10. Supporters treat that window as an important target because election-year politics can make a later vote more difficult to organize.
The CLARITY Act would create federal regulations for digital asset markets and split oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Futures Trading Commission. Senate staff still need to resolve disagreements before leaders can bring a final version to the floor, where the bill would need Democratic support.
An ethics dispute still blocks the Senate’s final deal
Witt’s decision to stay does not resolve the policy conflicts holding up the bill. Senate negotiators still lack a final deal on ethics rules that would prevent elected officials from profiting from crypto-related businesses. The White House did not adopt the proposed language in that report.
Democrats have pushed for tougher restrictions covering government officials with interests in digital assets, while the White House has argued that ethics standards should apply equally. Senate Majority Leader John Thune also acknowledged that Republicans still need a bipartisan deal to move the measure forward.
Uncertainty has affected market expectations. A related crypto.news report said that Polymarket sellers put the chance of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 at 31% on July 20. This figure could change quickly, but it showed doubts about whether lawmakers can resolve the dispute before the August recess.
Consumer protection and stablecoin yields remain fixed
Recent negotiations have also produced changes to customer protection. Coinbase vice chairman Ryan VanGrack said Senate Democrats found strong protections in the revised bill and described the changes as giving the law “more teeth.” He did not provide full details, and lawmakers had not released the final Senate text as of July 20.
Other disagreements center on stablecoin rewards, decentralized software developers and law enforcement powers. The stablecoin yield debate has drawn strong lobbying from banks and crypto companies. Banking groups have argued that rewards paid on stablecoin balances could attract deposits from traditional banks, while crypto firms have pushed to keep the activity-based rewards environment under a regulated framework.
As previously reported, the Senate Banking Committee cleared a version of the CLARITY Act in May. Witt has worked on many unresolved issues, keeping him involved in the administration’s efforts to reach an agreement with lawmakers from both parties.
Harry Jung’s exit changes the White House staffing system
Witt’s updated plans come as Harry Jung prepares to leave public service. Jung, deputy director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Digital Assets, said on July 21 that he will leave his post in two weeks. He was expected to take on many of Witt’s responsibilities during his scheduled military leave.
Jung said he was proud of the council’s work and described the past two years as a turning point in US crypto policy. His departure means the White House will avoid an immediate leadership vacuum because Witt is staying. The council also works on the implementation of the GENIUS Act, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and crypto tax policy.
Witt’s continued existence removes some uncertainty for workers, but the law still depends on lawmakers to resolve ethics, consumer laws and other conflicting sections. The Senate has not announced a final vote, leaving the bill’s path tied to negotiations before lawmakers travel to Washington in August.
