House Majority Whip Tom Emmer claims that law enforcement worries over protections for crypto developers are overstated.
By AI Boost|Edited by Jennifer SanasieUpdated May 22, 2026, 5:16 p.m. Published May 22, 2026, 4:30 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred onLatest developments: Emmer participated in CoinDesk's The Policy Protocol, emphasizing that the Senate's bipartisan support for the Clarity Act indicates ongoing momentum for crypto legislation despite rising uncertainties in Washington.
- He highlighted the Senate Banking Committee's 15-9 vote in favor of the bill, asserting that support transcends party lines.
- Emmer noted that the House has dedicated years to refining legislation regarding the crypto market structure and described the CLARITY initiative as one of the latest iterations of this ongoing effort.
- He mentioned that lawmakers aim to clarify the classification of digital assets as securities, commodities, or cash equivalents.
- Emmer expressed confidence that Congress would eventually pass the legislation to President Trump.
- CoinDesk's The Policy Protocol is moderated by Rebecca Rettig and Renato Mariotti.
The debate: Emmer robustly defended the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), which seeks to exempt certain noncustodial software developers from money transmitter regulations.
- Concerns from law enforcement organizations suggest that this provision could undermine oversight or impede investigations involving decentralized finance tools.
- Emmer dismissed these concerns as a “red herring” intended to obstruct the broader Clarity Act.
- He maintained that developers not holding customer funds should not be classified as money transmitters.
- Emmer pointed out the inconsistent treatment of blockchain software developers across different states, which is generating legal uncertainty for innovators.
What this means: Emmer contended that the U.S. requires more defined crypto regulations to stay competitive on a global scale.
- He noted that companies wish to innovate in the U.S. but need clarity on “the rules of the road.”
- Emmer criticized former SEC Chair Gary Gensler's enforcement strategies during the Biden administration.
- He explained that the Clarity Act aims to delineate more distinctly between assets overseen by the SEC and those regulated by the CFTC.
- Emmer believes the legislation would encourage more firms to function within the U.S. regulatory environment.
Reading between the lines: Emmer attempted to position crypto policy as a bipartisan concern rather than a partisan battle.
- He stated that “Republicans and Democrats agree on this stuff” despite the ongoing negotiations in the Senate.
- Emmer suggested that some senators are leveraging discussions about the bill to advance unrelated agendas.
- He asserted that the crypto sector tends to support candidates based on their policy stances rather than party lines.
- Emmer views crypto and digital assets as integral to the future of “21st century finance.”
Worth watching: Emmer indicated that Congress continues to debate the extent of authority that regulators like the SEC and CFTC should wield over crypto markets.
- Renato Mariotti raised questions about whether the CFTC might require additional resources or personnel under a new regulatory paradigm.
- Emmer expressed a preference for “light touch regulation” and reduced authority for federal agencies.
- He emphasized that Congress should prioritize consumer protections and fraud prevention.
- Emmer argued that digital assets can offer greater transparency compared to cash transactions.
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