After a vote in the U.S. Senate to begin deliberations on the Clarity Act, a broad crypto regulation bill, failed, an industry group is stepping up political pressure aimed at the midterm elections.

On Sept. 17, CoinPost, a blockchain outlet, reported that U.S. crypto industry group Stand With Crypto issued a statement on Sept. 16 expressing disappointment with the outcome and saying it would reflect senators' voting behavior in its scorecard.

The procedure blocked in the Senate was a procedural vote to move into full deliberations on the bill. The Senate failed on Sept. 16 to secure the 60 votes needed to begin considering the Clarity Act, with support limited to 49 votes, and the motion failed. The bill seeks to delineate regulatory authority between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the digital asset market in the United States.

Stand With Crypto described the failed vote as an important political issue for both the industry and voters. Executive Director Mason Lynaugh (메이슨 라이나우) criticised the vote as a "lack of leadership". He said 67 million U.S. crypto holders have been waiting for years for clear rules to safely use, develop and invest in their assets.

Lynaugh also highlighted the cost of regulatory delays. He argued that each delay is pushing U.S. technology innovation, jobs and investment capital overseas. Stand With Crypto said it considers the Clarity Act the top policy priority for its grassroots base of 3 million people and will continue legislative lobbying.

Political confrontation was also cited as a factor behind the failed vote. Democrats raised concerns about the content of an ethics provision that would limit crypto businesses tied to the Trump family. Republicans, meanwhile, did not accept a Democratic alternative presented just before the vote. With no compromise reached, the bill stalled at the starting line of debate.

Ahead of the November midterm elections, Stand With Crypto is formalising its support for pro-crypto candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. It is also using the vote results for each senator in its scorecard as material for voters' judgments. The industry is also watching not only whether the bill passes, but how far individual lawmakers' positions will become an election issue.

Of the 50 senators who voted against the measure, 14 face re-election or replacement in the November midterms. Of those, 12 are Democrats and 2 are Republicans. Five have already said they plan to retire. Still, because crypto policy is not a core voting standard for all voters, it remains uncertain whether the moves by industry groups will directly translate into election results.

Against this backdrop, the vote showed that U.S. crypto regulation legislation remains heavily swayed by political confrontation. Stand With Crypto made clear it will focus more on its midterm election response following the result.