Is That Right? US Senator Says Crypto Could ‘Blow Up’ Financial System

[Ben Graham]

A bill moving through Congress could reshape how big companies sell their shares. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts warned that the CLARITY Act might let firms dodge long‑standing rules.

Based on reports, the measure would shift certain tokens onto a “mature” blockchain and hand oversight to the CFTC instead of the SEC.

Warren Warns Of A Regulatory Loophole

According to Warren, the bill’s text would let any company listed on the NYSE put its stock on a qualifying blockchain. At that point, companies could escape SEC registration.

She said that could “blow up the value of the NYSE” by cutting out investor protections. Under the draft, token sales using a functional chain still count as fundraising, but tokenized shares may slip free of SEC checks.

She wants to limit US companies (Amazon, Meta, GE) to protect the “US economy” / NYSE?

Not against NYSE, but it’s just one company, fully owned by ICE, market cap: ~$100 billion.

Amazon market cap: $2.40 trillion.

NYSE ≠ economy. All companies = economy. https://t.co/6Xo6QVgL1p

— CZ BNB (@cz_binance) July 17, 2025

Companies could raise money without filing the same forms. They would not need to share audited reports or follow proxy rules. Retail investors might face hidden risks if their favorite blue‑chip stock suddenly shifts on‑chain.

Crypto Week Sees Multiple Bills

This week in Washington is packed. The House Agriculture Committee and the House Financial Services Committee both cleared the CLARITY Act. It now heads toward the Senate, where approval is not guaranteed.

(Update – On Wednesday, the GOP-led US House navigated crucial procedural checkpoints for crypto reform, just a day after President Donald Trump stepped in to keep the effort alive—clearing the path for America’s inaugural federal digital-asset statute. Those approvals came on the heels of more than nine hours of behind‑closed‑doors negotiations, as party leaders courted skeptics uneasy about the bill’s design.)

US President Donald Trump said he expects these bills to land on his desk after Senate votes. Representative Andy Harris noted that the House Freedom Caucus plans to meet soon to add CBDC language into the CLARITY draft.

Large parts of the market are watching closely. Token classification under one agency or another could shift billions in trading volume overnight.

Industry Voices Split On Regulation

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse pointed out that over 55 million US citizens now use crypto. He cited a $3.4 trillion market cap and urged a clear framework to secure the industry’s future.

On the other side, Americans for Financial Reform warned that the bill would curb the SEC’s powers to guard retail investors. They said it is more deregulatory than FIT21 from 2024, raising risks of scams and theft.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has said token rules should not remove securities‑law coverage where it belongs. Representatives Maxine Waters and Angie Craig also voiced concerns that the legislation favors big crypto players over everyday investors.

Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView