The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has set a roundtable for May to discuss the CLARITY Act, a move that brings together regulators from the SEC and CFTC with cryptocurrency stakeholders to clarify digital asset jurisdiction. This event is a key step ahead of the Senate Banking Committee’s expected markup during the week of May 11.
The roundtable follows a March 17 joint taxonomy released by the SEC and CFTC, which identified 16 digital assets as commodities. The CLARITY Act aims to codify this framework into permanent law. According to reports, the SEC will host the event in May 2026, while the Senate Banking Committee targets a markup the same week—marking the first legislative action since the Senate’s recess.
Senator Tim Scott has confirmed securing support from Senator Tillis and additional Republicans for the markup, though Senator John Kennedy remains opposed. The goal of achieving 13 out of 13 Republican votes remains unfulfilled. Senator Thom Tillis introduced a new obstacle: law enforcement groups oppose a provision in the bill that would shield DeFi developers from liability for users’ illicit activities. This unresolved issue adds pressure to the timeline.
Senator Cynthia Lummis warned at a conference that the current political alignment enabling the CLARITY Act is rare and fragile. Failure to pass before May 21 could delay progress until 2030. The SEC roundtable thus serves as a critical signal that the regulator is prepared to implement the legislation, a condition Senate Republicans consider essential for moving forward.