The White House has reached an agreement with Republican Senators Cynthia Lummis and Bernie Moreno on ethics language tied to the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, a move that could help secure support from some Senate Democrats for a bill that remains closely contested ahead of a likely tight vote, according to a report from Punchbowl released Tuesday.

Punchbowl reported that White House officials met with Lummis and Moreno to negotiate the ethics provisions. Neither senator has publicly detailed the terms, but the development—coming as lawmakers debate how the bill would address conflicts of interest—was framed as potentially influential for the prospects of President Donald Trump’s broader crypto-related agenda.

Key takeaways

• The CLARITY Act’s Senate path may depend less on technical policy details and more on whether lawmakers believe the ethics language is sufficient.
• Senators Cynthia Lummis and Bernie Moreno, along with White House officials, have reportedly aligned on ethics provisions, but the exact language has not been disclosed.
• Several prominent Senate Democrats have previously argued the bill would not be acceptable without stronger ethics safeguards tied to Trump’s crypto connections.
• Even with industry support and House passage in July 2025, the measure still faces an uncertain 60-vote threshold in the Senate.

Why the ethics language is now the focal point

House approval of the CLARITY Act in July 2025 marked a major step, as the legislation was advanced as part of Republicans’ broader “Crypto Week” push. But the bill’s momentum in the Senate has been repeatedly disrupted—during government shutdowns and amid concerns raised by lawmakers over multiple issues, including ethics, tokenization, stablecoin incentives, and protections for developers against enforcement actions.

In recent weeks, attention has sharpened around ethics. Last week, Trump urged the Senate to pass CLARITY “in honor of” the late Senator Lindsey Graham, whom he described as a supporter of the bill. That call underscored the White House’s sense of urgency, but it also brought the ethics debate to the forefront: multiple Senate Democrats have suggested that any bill lacking robust conflict-of-interest safeguards would fail to win their backing.

Cointelegraph previously reported that senators including Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy, Jeff Merkley, and Chris Van Hollen raised concerns about conflicts stemming from Trump’s alleged ties to the crypto industry. Their objections have included reference to potential links involving his memecoin and World Liberty Financial, the administration-related business tied to the president that has become a recurring point of contention in the legislative negotiations.

Cointelegraph also reported that it requested details on the agreement from Lummis’ office but did not receive an immediate response. On the administration side, a White House official told Cointelegraph that the government is “committed to working with Congress” to advance the act, adding that it had agreed to “the most comprehensive and wide-ranging ethics provision in history” and “bent over backward to accommodate [Democrats’] concerns.”

Democrats push for more than assurances

While the reported ethics alignment is significant, it does not automatically solve the central Senate hurdle: reaching 60 votes. Cointelegraph noted that Democrats’ objections have not been purely procedural; many have argued that ethics provisions must directly address perceived conflicts between the administration and the digital-asset ecosystem.

Ryan VanGrack, vice chair at Coinbase, told Cointelegraph that Democrats have already been able to negotiate customer-protection provisions in the Senate bill. Still, lawmakers who remain skeptical appear to want a deeper look at the underlying concerns before they commit to a vote. Cointelegraph reported that some are calling for hearings to examine Trump’s investments and connections to the industry.

The practical problem for supporters is that the Senate often demands concrete, reviewable commitments when legislation intersects with public-private incentives. If the ethics revisions are not specific enough—or if they fail to assuage concerns about how enforcement and policymaking could be influenced—Democrats may still withhold the votes needed to clear the supermajority threshold.

House passage, lingering delays, and what’s next

The CLARITY Act cleared the House in July 2025, but its progression in the Senate has been slowed by recurring disruptions and evolving policy concerns. In the days leading up to Tuesday, there was no clear signal that a vote had been scheduled, and as of then the bill text had not been publicly released. Lawmakers and industry advocates have expected the Senate to take up the measure before the chamber breaks for August state work periods, but the absence of a posted vote reflects how close the measure still is to becoming entangled in negotiation rather than legislative scheduling.

That uncertainty matters for market participants and builders, because stable regulatory expectations tend to influence investment and deployment decisions. When the bill’s timing is unclear, uncertainty grows around how quickly regulated compliance frameworks could solidify—especially for activities such as tokenization and stablecoin-related mechanisms, which have been among the contested areas in earlier discussions.

Bitcoin rises as traders price in the possibility of progress

In the market, Bitcoin climbed above $66,000 early Tuesday and reached a seven-week high, a move observers linked to reports of an ethics deal and to broader policy expectations around trade. According to a Tuesday X post by Michaël van de Poppe, founder and chief investment officer of MN Fund and MN Capital, the move was “entirely dedicated” to hopes for potential approval of the CLARITY Act.

Van de Poppe’s comments reflected a common dynamic: when regulation-related headlines suggest a bill could move from negotiation to an actual Senate vote, crypto assets often see short-term volatility tied to expectations of near-term clarity. Still, traders should recognize the difference between “talks” and “votes.” An ethics agreement reported by Punchbowl could improve the odds of attracting centrist or skeptical support, but the legislation’s path to passage remains uncertain until the text and the vote count are known.

With the Senate still facing a 60-vote threshold and no public confirmation of the exact ethics language, the key question now is whether the final package will be seen as credible enough by Democrats—and whether that credibility survives scrutiny amid calls for hearings and questions about conflicts. Investors and users watching CLARITY should look for the bill text, formal Senate scheduling, and whether additional Democratic lawmakers move from opposition or conditional support into a committed “yes.”

Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School is preparing to establish a new campus in Kazakhstan as its operation in Malaysia faces tighter regulatory action.

Srinivasan announced on July 21 that Network School had signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan. He said the planned campus would offer expedited visas, streamlined redomiciliation and active recruitment of global talent. The agreement also covers cooperation involving education, artificial intelligence, startups, research and international technology events.

The move comes as Network School’s Forest City operation in Johor faces an order to stop activities. The Iskandar Puteri City Council revoked the business licence of NSO Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the company behind the campus, with the order taking effect on July 22. Johor authorities said the decision followed a review of inspection reports, enforcement findings and representations from the company.

Meanwhile, the case also includes a separate immigration investigation. Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi has called for federal authorities to continue examining possible breaches. However, Malaysian immigration officials previously said all 266 foreign residents inspected at the site held valid travel documents.

As crypto.news previously reported, Srinivasan had already paused a planned $122 million expansion in Malaysia while seeking written assurances from the government. He said Network School wanted greater legal certainty before committing more capital.

Kazakhstan offers Network School a new base

The Kazakhstan agreement gives Network School another location as the Malaysia dispute continues. Its official website now refers to community activities in Kazakhstan, although a detailed opening schedule for the new campus has not been publicly confirmed.

Srinivasan described the plan by saying, “Our new campus will become a haven for global techno-optimism, with expedited visas, streamlined redomiciliation, and active recruitment of talent.” The memorandum creates a framework for cooperation, while further operating details have yet to be announced.

Kazakhstan has also been expanding its technology and digital-asset policies. As crypto.news reported, the government has backed plans for Alatau City, a digital-first development designed to support blockchain technology, digital payments and other technology projects.

At the same time, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation said it would take action to revoke NSO Malaysia’s Malaysia Digital status following the cancellation of its business licence. Companies holding the designation must maintain required licences and comply with applicable regulations.

Srinivasan has disputed the scale of the alleged operating breaches. Before the licence cancellation, he said Network School had received notices involving signage and licensing for adjoining coworking units, adding that the company had a period to address the issues.

For now, the Kazakhstan agreement gives Network School a path to continue its international expansion while Malaysian authorities complete their remaining reviews. The next stage will depend on how the memorandum develops into formal campus operations and what further action Malaysian regulators take.

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has created a dedicated cryptocurrency investigation unit as the country builds a broader system for regulating and policing digital assets.

The new unit sits within the FIA’s National Command and Control Centre, or NC3, and will investigate the suspected use of cryptocurrencies in money laundering, terrorism financing and other crimes, Dawn reported. The move separates criminal investigations from the work of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, which oversees the country’s regulated digital asset sector.

Muhammad Athar Waheed, director of the FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing, said PVARA remains responsible for digital asset regulation, while the FIA will focus on possible criminal activity involving cryptocurrencies. He also called for the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and the Anti-Narcotics Force to create similar specialist teams for cybercrime and drug-related cases involving digital assets.

FIA builds dedicated capacity for crypto investigations

The cryptocurrency investigation team forms part of a wider upgrade at the FIA’s NC3. The command centre brings several investigative and monitoring functions onto one platform. These include anti-money laundering teams, border monitoring, intelligence coordination, cyber patrols, dark web investigations and cooperation with Interpol.

Officials said the system allows the agency to coordinate cases across its offices and monitor investigations in real time. The FIA is also introducing new rules aimed at completing inquiries within set timeframes. One official said “many new things are in the pipeline” as the agency continues expanding its investigative capacity.

The agency’s move comes as governments and law enforcement bodies worldwide increase their focus on how criminals move funds through digital assets. Crypto transactions remain visible on public blockchains in many cases, but investigators often need specialist tools and training to trace funds across wallets, exchanges, bridges and different networks.

In Pakistan, the FIA’s new unit gives law enforcement a team focused specifically on that work. Meanwhile, PVARA will continue handling licensing and supervision rather than criminal investigations. This creates separate roles for market regulation and law enforcement as Pakistan develops its formal crypto framework.

Pakistan expands its regulated digital asset market

The launch follows months of changes to Pakistan’s cryptocurrency rules. The Virtual Assets Act 2026 established PVARA as the federal authority responsible for supervising virtual asset service providers, including exchanges, custodians, brokers and token issuers. The regulator has also been working on operating standards for companies seeking to serve local users.

As crypto.news previously reported, the State Bank of Pakistan also allowed regulated banks to provide accounts to PVARA-licensed digital asset companies in April. Banks must verify licences, monitor accounts and keep customer funds separate from company money. They must also continue following anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing requirements.

The banking decision followed Pakistan’s earlier effort to bring international trading platforms into a licensed market. As previously reported, PVARA invited global exchanges and other virtual asset service providers to apply for approval to operate in the country. Applicants must provide information on compliance records, security systems, financial details and local business plans.

These regulatory steps have created a formal route for licensed crypto activity while the FIA builds tools to investigate suspected crimes. The two systems serve different functions: PVARA sets and enforces rules for registered businesses, while law enforcement investigates possible violations of criminal law.

Stablecoins and Bitcoin remain part of Pakistan’s plans

Pakistan has also explored wider uses for blockchain-based financial systems. As crypto.news reported, the government signed an agreement in January with SC Financial Technologies, an affiliate of World Liberty Financial, to study the possible use of the USD1 stablecoin for cross-border payments.

The country has also discussed plans for a state-held Bitcoin reserve and the use of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centres. Earlier policy discussions also covered cooperation with international crypto companies as Pakistan sought to bring more digital asset activity into a regulated system.

However, the rapid expansion of the sector has also brought closer attention to financial crime controls. The State Bank requires regulated institutions to report suspicious activity under existing anti-money laundering rules, while the FIA’s new unit will investigate cases where authorities suspect digital assets played a role in criminal activity.

Pakistan’s latest move therefore adds a dedicated law enforcement layer to its developing crypto framework. PVARA will continue supervising licensed companies, while the FIA’s specialist unit will focus on alleged criminal use of digital assets. Other federal agencies could also establish their own crypto-focused teams if they follow the recommendation made by the FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing director.

Bitcoin held near $66,300 on Wednesday, consolidating a two-week high, as the semiconductor rally that has driven crypto all month extended into a second session and the Japanese yen sank to its weakest level in four decades.

The largest cryptocurrency was up nearly 1% on the day and 3% on the week, with about $31 billion changing hands and a 24-hour range of roughly $65,400 to $66,900.

Ether traded near $1,935, up 3% on the week. XRP added 2% to $1.14 and TRON edged up, while the day’s laggard was hyperliquid’s HYPE, down 4% to $60 and off 10% over seven sessions. Bitcoin’s dominance and the majors’ muted daily moves point to a market drifting higher on macro rather than any crypto-native catalyst.

The engine is still the chip trade. MSCI’s Asia Pacific equities gauge rose 1%, extending Tuesday’s biggest one-day gain in a month, with South Korea’s Kospi jumping 5% as a leveraged-position unwind that had pulled the benchmark nearly 30% off its peak appeared to be ending.

Samsung and SK Hynix led, following a more than 5% jump in a U.S. semiconductor gauge on Tuesday that clawed the index back out of a technical bear-market territory.

Balance Coin (BLC), an algorithmic stablecoin designed to track the U.S. dollar, lost more than 99% of its value after blockchain security firms reported a suspected exploit involving 42DAO.

PeckShield said the incident caused about $915,000 in losses and linked the BLC collapse to an exploit affecting 42DAO, the decentralized organization connected to the Balance Protocol ecosystem. The security firm said Balance Coin “has plummeted -99%” following the reported attack.