Today in crypto, the US Senate unanimously opposed executive clemency for Sam Bankman-Fried, President Donald Trump prepared to meet senators over the CLARITY Act and his attorney general nominee faced scrutiny over crypto enforcement and Changpeng Zhao’s pardon.

US Senate adopts resolution opposing clemency for SBF

The US Senate has adopted a resolution opposing executive clemency for former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, the convicted crypto executive behind one of the industry’s largest collapses.

The Senate has agreed by unanimous consent to the simple resolution (S. Res. 772), with a nonbinding measure stating that Bankman-Fried should not receive executive clemency, according to a Wednesday X post by the Senate Press Gallery.

The resolution affirms the Senate’s commitment to the rule of law and the integrity of the US financial system following Bankman-Fried’s conviction on fraud and conspiracy charges related to FTX’s collapse.

The measure cannot block a presidential pardon but reflects bipartisan Senate opposition after Bankman-Fried sought executive clemency from President Donald Trump.

Trump to meet with senators over CLARITY Act on Thursday

US President Donald Trump is set to meet with several senators at the White House on Thursday to discuss progress on the crypto market structure bill.

According to Politico, Senator Bernie Moreno said a group of senators will brief the president on the bill and “its path to success.” Senator Cynthia Lummis will also attend, according to a Senate Republican aide.

“We’ll be talking about the entirety of the bill. I mean, obviously the president’s been very engaged in this bill,” said Moreno. “He’s the one who’s really driven the innovation that I think will pay dividends.”

The meeting comes as lawmakers race to pass the crypto market structure bill , known as the CLARITY Act, before the Senate’s August recess. Many lawmakers see it as the last realistic opportunity to pass the legislation before the midterm elections.

“I’m hoping that we can come up with some agreement by the end of this week,” Senator Thom Tillis, who has been helping work through the CLARITY Act’s unresolved provisions , told Politico.

“I think it’s critical if we’re going to try and get this across the floor before August recess.”

US AG nominee faces Senate scrutiny over crypto enforcement and CZ pardon

President Donald Trump’s nominee for US Attorney General, Todd Blanche, faced sharp questioning from Senate Democrats and Republicans over his role in reshaping the Justice Department’s crypto enforcement strategy and the pardon of former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, Senator Dick Durbin accused Blanche of dismantling the Justice Department’s crypto enforcement unit and ending active investigations into the digital asset sector while serving as deputy attorney general. Durbin argued the policy shift benefited Trump’s crypto interests, including World Liberty Financial, and criticized Zhao’s presidential pardon following his 2023 guilty plea over Anti-Money Laundering violations.

Blanche rejected no allegations directly but said he would review the pardon process if confirmed. Republican Senator Thom Tillis also raised concerns about Zhao’s pardon.

Todd Blanche at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Source: Associated Press