The battle over major cryptocurrency legislation in the United States has moved beyond Washington, with crypto advocates and banking groups stepping up lobbying efforts in senators’ home states ahead of a crucial Senate vote.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the Clarity Act on September 15, a move that could determine whether the legislation advances. The bill has strong backing from the cryptocurrency industry, which argues that it would provide clearer legal rules for digital assets. However, Democrats and some Republicans have raised concerns about consumer safeguards, money laundering, ethics and the possible impact of digital tokens on traditional bank deposits.
The crypto industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars pushing for the legislation. Its supporters say the bill would give cryptocurrency businesses greater legal certainty by establishing which digital tokens should be treated as securities or commodities and clarifying which regulators would oversee them.
With Congress on its summer recess since August 8, industry groups have shifted their campaign to senators’ home states. Their efforts have included opinion articles in local newspapers, letter-writing campaigns, public events and direct meetings with lawmakers, according to industry executives and publicly available materials.
Stand With Crypto, a crypto advocacy organization backed by Coinbase, has been particularly active. Executive Director Mason Lynaugh said the group’s goal during the recess has been to demonstrate the size and enthusiasm of its supporters across states and congressional districts.
The organization says it has about 3 million advocates, including individual cryptocurrency users and technology entrepreneurs. Supporters have published opinion pieces in newspapers in states including Oklahoma, Kentucky and Kansas, urging Congress to approve the legislation. The group has also organized events in Iowa, Michigan and other states.
During August, supporters contacted members of Congress by phone or email nearly 50,000 times, Lynaugh said. Stand With Crypto has also helped arrange face-to-face meetings between its supporters and lawmakers.
The Blockchain Association, another Washington-based group representing cryptocurrency companies, launched clarityforamerica.com in late July. The website helps users contact senators and create messages supporting the Clarity Act. Participants can select issues such as consumer protection and clear rules and certainty, as well as choose the tone of their messages.
“We’ve got to just keep that pressure up,” Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger said.
The campaign comes as the cryptocurrency industry faces a potentially narrow legislative window. Republican President Donald Trump has actively courted crypto support and has pledged policies favorable to the roughly $2 trillion cryptocurrency market. The White House has also strongly supported the Clarity Act.
Crypto companies are pushing for passage this year partly because polls indicate Democrats could regain control of the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections. That outcome could make it considerably harder for the industry to secure legislation. Crypto companies have already spent at least $190 million on the 2026 elections.
### Banks Raise Concerns Over Digital Tokens
The banking industry has mounted its own campaign against parts of the legislation. Democrats argue that the bill does not contain strong enough protections against money laundering and conflicts of interest.
Some Republicans have expressed another concern: that certain digital tokens could compete directly with bank deposits and potentially weaken banks’ ability to lend.
Senators James Lankford of Oklahoma and Mike Rounds of South Dakota are among the Republicans who have raised concerns about the provision.
The Independent Community Bankers of America has been campaigning against the stablecoin-related provision in Washington and is now encouraging community bankers to meet senators in their home offices. The group has focused on senators outside the 24-member Senate Banking Committee, which advanced the bill in May.
Paul Merski, ICBA’s executive vice president of congressional relations, said the August recess has provided an opportunity for senators to hear directly from local bankers and other grassroots voices.
The banking group has also used television advertising in Washington and targeted states to argue that cryptocurrency ranks near the bottom of issues important to American voters. It ran another advertisement during the U.S. Open tennis tournament calling for changes to the legislation to protect Main Street lending.
Crypto Group Targets Georgia Senator
In Georgia, Stand With Crypto has focused on Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, who voted against advancing the Clarity Act from the Senate Banking Committee.
Tia Williams, president of the organization’s Georgia chapter and founder of blockchain software company DocuHero, said she met with staff at Warnock’s field office during the recess.
Williams said Warnock and his staff appeared knowledgeable about cryptocurrency but were also concerned about protecting ordinary Americans.
The Georgia chapter is planning visits to Warnock’s office by local college students interested in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. It has also organized advocacy events in Athens and Augusta.
The competing campaigns underscore the intense lobbying effort surrounding the Clarity Act as lawmakers prepare for the September 15 procedural vote. With the bill facing opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans, supporters on both sides are using the congressional recess to pressure senators before the legislation reaches its next critical stage.
