Coinbase's Faryar Shirzad said the CLARITY Act strengthens anti-money laundering, sanctions enforcement, and national security oversight. Senator Elizabeth Warren renewed criticism, arguing t
- Coinbase's Faryar Shirzad said the CLARITY Act strengthens anti-money laundering, sanctions enforcement, and national security oversight.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren renewed criticism, arguing the bill could weaken sanctions enforcement and requesting hearings on crypto holdings.
- Senate committees continue merging separate proposals into a unified CLARITY Act draft before the August recess.
Debate over the CLARITY Act intensified as the Senate prepared a unified draft and Coinbase defended the proposal against national security criticism. Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad said unclear crypto rules create greater risks, while lawmakers continued negotiations before the expected release of revised legislation ahead of the August recess.
Shirzad Rejects Security Criticism
According to Shirzad, the CLARITY Act would place crypto platforms under the same national security standards as traditional financial institutions. He said the legislation requires compliance with federal anti-money laundering rules rather than reducing oversight.
Shirzad also said the bill expands the Treasury Department's authority to identify and stop sanctions evasion involving foreign adversaries. Additionally, he noted that the proposal provides more funding for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to combat state-backed cybercrime.
He added that the legislation would also allow crypto platforms to freeze suspicious transactions when law enforcement requests action. According to Shirzad, those measures strengthen oversight instead of weakening it.
Warren Raises New Concerns
However, Senator Elizabeth Warren renewed her criticism of the legislation. According to the provided information, she shared an opinion article from a former National Security Council official focused on Iran.
Warren argued the CLARITY Act, in its current form, could make sanctions evasion easier. Meanwhile, she and ranking Democrats from five congressional committees also requested hearings into President Donald Trump's crypto holdings.

At the same time, Senate Banking Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee staff continue working to combine separate proposals into a single legislative draft. The unified version could become available before lawmakers leave for the August recess.
Market Watches Bill's Progress
Meanwhile, Coinbase's leadership transition has also attracted attention during the legislative debate. Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal recently announced his departure after six years with the company.
Grewal previously helped lead Coinbase's legal efforts involving the SEC while supporting the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act. Following his announcement, some market participants questioned whether the legislation had lost momentum.
According to the provided information, the CLARITY Act advanced through the Senate Banking Committee in May 2026. Separately, Polymarket showed the bill's chances of passing this year at 46%, while some commentators linked Grewal's departure to the legislation's uncertain timeline.
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