WASHINGTON , Three Senate Democrats declared the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act a "corrupt piece of legislation" on Tuesday, vowing to block the landmark crypto market structure bill unless it includes binding ethics provisions targeting President Donald Trump's personal crypto empire.

Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) held a Capitol Hill press conference alongside actor Ben McKenzie and financial reform advocates to pressure colleagues ahead of what could be a make-or-break Senate vote before the August recess. The CLARITY Act , which would divide digital asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC , needs at least seven Democratic votes to clear the chamber's 60-vote filibuster threshold, giving the opposition real leverage.

"Unless this system stops the corruption of the whole industry by Trump, this bill is useless," Murphy said, pointing to the president's financial disclosures showing $1.4 billion in crypto-related income in 2025, including $635 million from his personal memecoin. "If it protects Trump's dominance over an industry he will have more control to regulate, the bill is, in and of itself, a fundamental corruption."

The core dispute centers on a proposed ban preventing senior government officials , including the president and his family , from personally profiting from digital assets while in office. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has led the charge, calling ethics language "non-negotiable." White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt has signaled openness to broad ethics rules but opposes anything that singles out specific individuals.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pledged a floor vote before the chamber's state work period begins Aug. 10. Prediction markets now peg the bill's passage probability at roughly 36%, down sharply from 48% a week ago, as Democratic resistance hardens and the August recess deadline looms.