Crypto leaders press Howard Lutnick on stalled CLARITY Act

The meeting, which took place shortly before a scheduled White House event with President Donald Trump, included Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, a16z crypto founder Chris Dixon, and Kraken co-founder Arjun Sethi. According to sources familiar with the session, the group pressed the case for federal digital asset rules, arguing that clear legislation is essential to boosting domestic employment and incentivizing firms to keep their operations onshore.

Negotiations have been hampered by disagreements over ethics provisions and conflict-of-interest language, which remain critical hurdles for attracting the Democratic votes needed to overcome Senate procedural thresholds. While industry leaders previously reached a compromise on stablecoin rewards—a move that helped the bill clear the Senate Banking Committee in May—the push for consensus on broader regulatory frameworks, including illicit finance controls and developer protections, continues to consume legislative bandwidth. The administration is now playing a more active role in facilitating these talks, as industry stakeholders look for the White House to help bridge the divide between congressional factions.