CLARITY Act is a national security bill, former US defense secretary says

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has urged the Senate to pass the CLARITY Act before its Sept. 15 procedural vote, arguing that delayed crypto rules could weaken U.S. financial and national security. Summary Mark Esper said regulated U.S. crypto markets would improve oversight of digital asset transactions. The Senate’s Sept. 15 cloture vote requires 60 votes to advance the bill. House lawmakers approved the CLARITY Act by a 294–134 vote in July 2025. Stablecoin rewards, political ethics, and decentralized finance remain central points of dispute. The Financial Times published Esper’s policy argument on Aug. 7, with the former defense secretary describing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act as “not merely a financial services bill” but also a “national security bill.” Esper, who led the Pentagon from 2019 to 2020, said U.S. power relies partly on the dollar and the payment networks that carry it around the world. Clear rules for digital assets, he argued, would help preserve Washington’s view into financial activity while supporting sanctions enforcement. When crypto companies and transactions move through offshore venues with weaker controls, Esper said U.S. agencies lose...