
Senator dismisses crypto focus in affordability hearing
- Digital Chamber CEO Cody Carbone argued that digital assets could help address affordability challenges in the United States.
- Most senators showed limited interest in cryptocurrency during the Senate Banking Committee hearing.
- The debate comes as lawmakers continue considering the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act ahead of a potential Senate vote.
Cody Carbone, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Chamber, told a Senate Banking Committee hearing that digital assets could help improve affordability through lower transaction costs, faster payments and reduced barriers to transferring assets.
The hearing, titled "The Affordability Agenda", focused broadly on economic challenges facing Americans, with cryptocurrency receiving limited attention from lawmakers.
“Mr. Carbone, you seem to be here to promote cryptocurrency, I love cryptocurrency, but I don't think that's the problem with our economy,” said Senator John Kennedy (R-Louisiana).
Carbone used his testimony to highlight the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, arguing that clearer regulation could support innovation and improve financial services, while Senator Jim Banks questioned him about remittance costs and stablecoin payments.
The hearing took place as the Senate continues reviewing the CLARITY Act, which has already advanced through committee but still faces debate over ethics provisions and other amendments; no date has been scheduled for a Senate floor vote.
The legislation has also attracted scrutiny from gambling industry groups, which want lawmakers to clarify that the bill would not expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's oversight of sports betting through prediction markets.
Despite ongoing lobbying from crypto advocacy organisations, the Senate remains divided on several provisions of the bill as lawmakers work against a narrowing legislative timetable before the August recess.