White House Crypto Chief Departs as Clarity Act Faces Critical Senate Deadline

White House crypto chief Patrick Witt is stepping away for military leave, a move that lands just as the critical Clarity Act faces a looming Senate deadline. His absence injects fresh uncertainty into the market structure bill's already tight timeline ⏳.

The Clarity Act, designed to split digital asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC, cleared the House and Senate Banking Committee. Senate leaders push for floor debate before the August 7 recess, a window many see as the final chance for passage this Congress. Ethics provisions, tied to President Trump's crypto interests, remain a significant hurdle.

Witt was the administration's lead negotiator, steering talks on stablecoin yield and developer protections. His departure raises questions, though deputy director Harry Jung, who worked closely with Witt, is set to assume his duties, aiming for continuity. Prediction markets reflect the growing doubt: Polymarket odds for 2026 passage have plummeted from 74% to 48% in a month.