U.S. crypto bill talks intensify as Trump filing raises ethics pressure

Traders Union
All News
Crypto
U.S. crypto bill talks

Highlights

Trump's 927-page financial disclosure, released Tuesday, intensifies bipartisan negotiations over adding strict ethics rules to the Clarity Act crypto bill.
Disclosure reveals income linked to World Liberty Financial and a jump in Melania Trump's NFT sales income from just over $216,000 to $6 million in 2024.
Lawmakers stress that comprehensive ethics restrictions for elected officials could become pivotal for bipartisan support of the U.S. crypto market structure legislation.

Ethics provisions move to the forefront

The Block reports that Trump's 927-page financial disclosure, released Tuesday, is sharpening focus on ethics language in the Clarity Act, a proposed crypto market structure bill that would create the industry's first comprehensive federal regulatory framework.

Lawmakers from both parties have spent months discussing provisions that would restrict presidents, vice presidents, members of Congress and other federal officials from profiting from digital assets while serving in office. Democrats renew those demands after the filing becomes public, and Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis says ethics language remains part of ongoing bipartisan negotiations.

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks says legislation must include an ethics agreement applying to the president, vice president and lawmakers, while Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says work continues on rigorous bipartisan reform that would bar top elected officials from using crypto for personal profit. Sen. Elizabeth Warren also says the Clarity Act must prevent lawmakers, presidents, vice presidents and their families from benefiting financially from the crypto industry.

Lummis says the bill will include strong ethics provisions negotiated in good faith with the White House and Democrats, adding that she hopes colleagues will help complete the measure. Lummis, one of Congress' most vocal crypto advocates, is due to leave her post at the end of her term in January 2027.

Disclosure details and wider implications

The financial filing shows income linked to World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance company launched by the Trump family in 2024, adding a new political complication to an already sensitive regulatory debate. The disclosure also reports $6 million in income for First Lady Melania Trump from NFT sales, up from just over $216,000 a year earlier.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, Trump says his finances are held in a blind account managed by large institutions and that he does not speak with those handling the money. His remarks come as the disclosure fuels broader scrutiny over how public officials and their families can participate in crypto markets while major federal rules for the sector are still being written.

For the digital asset industry, the dispute could shape not only the final form of the Clarity Act but also the political viability of broader crypto legislation in Washington. If ethics restrictions remain central to the talks, they may become a key condition for bipartisan support as the U.S. moves toward a more formal regulatory framework.

Our earlier coverage of Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure examined his explanation that outside money managers handle the investment decisions for the assets listed in the filing. We also highlighted how crypto-related earnings—particularly income tied to World Liberty Financial and other digital-asset ventures—accounted for a large share of the reported jump in his revenue.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.