[DigitalToday reporter Hyunwoo Choo] U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (엘리자베스 워런), known as a critic of cryptocurrencies, said she opposes the Clarity bill itself but intends to push ahead with legislation to regulate cryptocurrencies. On Sept. 16 (local time), blockchain media outlet CoinPost reported that Warren called the bill the first opportunity for meaningful crypto regulation in Washington but said she cannot support it in its current form.

Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, argued the bill should include rules on public officials’ cryptocurrency investments and measures to strengthen national security, consumer protection and responses to illicit funds. On ethics provisions, she criticised them as ineffective at preventing President Donald Trump’s conflicts of interest.

Warren said the current ethics provisions give enforcement authority to presidential appointees, meaning they effectively do not apply to the president. She said the provisions amount to a weak pretext that only makes it appear as if they would block Trump’s interests related to his cryptocurrency business.

The Senate held a procedural vote on Sept. 16 to begin consideration of the Clarity bill, but it failed to reach the 60-vote threshold, with 49 in favour. Seven centrist Democratic senators who had taken part in bill negotiations for months also voted against it.

Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis (신시아 루미스), who has led the bill, criticised Democrats after the vote, saying she negotiated in good faith but their demands kept changing. She also argued that by voting against rules on politicians’ personal crypto investments and consumer protection measures, Democrats have handed U.S. leadership in cryptocurrencies to competitors such as China.

If consideration of the bill carries into next year, Warren’s role could grow. That is because if Democrats regain a Senate majority in the November midterm elections, Warren could become chair of the Senate Banking Committee. Lummis, meanwhile, has said she will not run in the 2026 election, and the Republican negotiating channel is also expected to change.

Asked whether she would be willing, as chair, to lead discussions on a cryptocurrency bill, Warren said yes. She said she wants to work with Democrats, Republicans and industry figures to create an effective crypto bill that can protect national security and the economy and curb corruption. She said Republicans would need to be able to stand up to Trump for that to happen, and that this is a fairly high barrier.