A group representing police leadership in major U.S. cities has formalised its support for the Clarity Act, a bill to regulate the cryptocurrency market, increasing pressure to move the legislation ahead of Congress going into recess in August.

Bitcoin Magazine reported on July 30 that the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) backed the bill, saying the recently revised version strengthened provisions to respond to financial crime.

The group is a nonprofit organisation made up of police chiefs in major U.S. cities. In a letter, the association said the latest legislative changes won its support and positively assessed newly added law enforcement-related provisions. It said the revised bill was "a meaningful advancement" that improves the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate financial crimes related to digital assets.

The Clarity Act is focused on creating a regulatory framework for the U.S. cryptocurrency market. Republicans are seeking to secure bipartisan support this week to advance the bill. They are operating on the view that it should be finalised before Congress enters its August recess.

This is not the first time a law enforcement group has voiced support. Last week, the U.S. national Fraternal Order of Police also backed the bill. This week, Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (캐서린 코르테즈 매스토) delivered revision proposals together with two law enforcement groups, and she said the groups "viewed" the proposals "favourably". The recent changes to the bill have confirmed a trend of widening support among law enforcement agencies.

Even so, prospects for passage are not fully settled. Major financial institutions, some lawmakers and companies support the latest draft, but some Democrats say the current text is insufficient. Democrats issued a statement last week saying the bill in its current form is not enough.

The Clarity Act passed the House last year with strong bipartisan support, but has remained in a prolonged stalemate in 2026. Banking sector lobbying raised concerns about stablecoin yields, and some lawmakers have argued that ethics rules need strengthening.

A revised draft made public last week reflected some of those issues. It included a new provision banning government officials and their families from issuing or promoting cryptocurrencies. This also intersects with criticism over U.S. President Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency business interests. Democrats and some Republicans have raised the possibility of conflicts of interest, citing profits by the Trump family through a memecoin and the decentralised finance protocol World Liberty Financial.

Ultimately, the key issue in the debate is balancing market development with control mechanisms. Public support from law enforcement groups has helped ease some concerns about responding to financial crime, but how much of the additional changes sought by some Democrats are reflected is expected to determine the pace of further progress.