《CLARITY Act》How Much of a Game-Changer Will It Be for the 2026 Midterm Elections?

Original Title: National survey of voters shows bipartisan support for American leadership in cryptocurrencies and passing the CLARITY Act.

Original Author: HarrisX

Original Translation: Peggy, BlockBeats

Editor's Note: Crypto regulation is becoming a new variable in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

HarrisX survey shows that national voters not only support American leadership in digital finance and cryptocurrencies across party lines but also broadly support passing the CLARITY Act.

Note: HarrisX conducted an online survey of 2,008 registered voters from May 1 to 4, 2026.

This bill was originally a regulatory framework piece of legislation, centered on clarifying the regulatory boundaries of the SEC and CFTC over digital assets, establishing registration rules for exchanges and custodians, and strengthening consumer protection. However, based on HarrisX's findings, its political significance has transcended the crypto industry itself: 37% of voters said they would be more likely to support a senator if that senator voted for the bill; overall, supporting the CLARITY Act could yield a net electoral gain of 20 percentage points.

More noteworthy is the cross-party movement. The survey shows that 47% of voters said that if a candidate supports the CLARITY Act while their originally preferred party does not, they would consider voting for a candidate outside that party. This proportion is even higher among cryptocurrency holders, voters familiar with digital assets, and those who know about the Act.

This means the CLARITY Act is not just a legislative attempt by the crypto industry to seek regulatory clarity but could also serve as an issue tool for candidates to attract young voters, crypto holders, and swing voters. For the U.S. political landscape, the core question of crypto regulation is shifting from "whether to regulate" to "who can use it to mobilize votes."

Below is the original text:

Introduction

Digital assets and their federal regulatory framework are at a critical turning point.

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (the CLARITY Act, H.R.3633), currently before Congress, will clarify three things: which types of digital assets are regulated by the SEC or the CFTC, registration rules for cryptocurrency trading platforms and custodians, and industry-wide consumer protection standards. This is one of the most important pieces of digital asset legislation Congress has ever considered.

Building on its long track record in public opinion research, HarrisX conducted a national survey of 2,008 registered voters to measure four things: voter awareness and ownership of digital assets, attitudes toward U.S. leadership in digital finance, support for the CLARITY Act, and whether candidates' positions on crypto regulation could influence the 2026 midterm elections.

Eight of the world's top ten cryptocurrency trading platforms are headquartered outside the United States. As digital payment systems and stablecoin infrastructure accelerate globally, if the U.S. continues to lack clear federal rules, it risks ceding leadership in a strategic financial technology to overseas jurisdictions – which would tangibly impact national security, the global status of the U.S. dollar, the retention of developers and businesses, and America's overall competitiveness in financial technology innovation.

Voters across party lines recognize this risk and want Congress to act quickly.

This is a voter poll conducted by HarrisX regarding the CLARITY Act (U.S. cryptocurrency market structure legislation). The five charts present five core findings:

Chart 1｜The bill has bipartisan support. 52% of respondents support the CLARITY Act, while only 11% oppose it; the net support rates among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are +43%, +48%, and +32% respectively, with Republican voters showing the highest support.

Chart 2｜Supporting the legislation yields significant electoral gains. The net electoral benefit is +20% – 37% of voters said they would be more likely to vote for a senator who advanced the CLARITY Act, while only 17% said they would be less likely; 47% of voters would be willing to cross party lines to vote for it, with the highest proportion among Republican voters (51%).

Chart 3｜"National security" is the most compelling narrative framework. 56% of respondents believe that a digital payment system built and controlled outside the U.S. would weaken American national security, while only 22% believe it would strengthen it; this judgment is a majority consensus across all three major parties (DEM 56%, GOP 57%, IND 54%). 23% of voters cited national security as the primary reason for passing the bill.

Chart 4｜Voters want the U.S. to take the lead and establish clear rules. 70% think the U.S. should have passed crypto legislation by now; 62% say it is "extremely important" or "very important" for the U.S. to set global rules for digital finance; 60% would prefer an imperfect but clear federal law over continuing a "case-by-case enforcement" regulatory model.

Chart 5｜Most voters are unaware of the offshore status of the crypto industry. Only 33% of voters know that "eight of the world's top ten crypto trading platforms are headquartered outside the U.S." After being informed, 46% considered this a problem, while only 13% saw no issue; this concern was most pronounced among Republican voters (50%).

American Leadership and the Need for Clear Federal Rules

Voter understanding of digital assets remains limited, but their views are clear and consistent: the U.S. should set the rules for digital finance, and it should act quickly.

Awareness of digital assets is still low, but crypto holders are already a significant voting bloc

· 39% of voters say they are familiar with digital assets and blockchain technology, while 61% say they are not.

· Two in five voters have purchased cryptocurrency, with 30% having done so in the past year.

· Familiarity and ownership rates are concentrated mainly among men and voters under 35.

This chart focuses on a core issue – the strong expectation among American voters for the U.S. to establish dominance in the cryptocurrency field. Using five questions, HarrisX outlines a quite clear public opinion from the dimensions of "urgency, global standing, regulatory path, legislative pace, and risk-taking":

70%｜Legislation should already be in place. Seven in ten voters believe the U.S. should have passed clear cryptocurrency legislation by now. This is a judgment about "timing" – voters are no longer discussing "whether to act," but expressing anxiety about "why it hasn't happened yet."

62%｜Global rules should be written by the U.S. On the issue of setting global rules for digital finance, 62% of voters say it is extremely or very important for the U.S. to lead rather than other countries. This essentially elevates crypto regulation from a "financial issue" to a "national competition issue."

60%｜Clear federal law, not case-by-case enforcement. Six in ten voters explicitly state they would prefer an imperfect but clear federal law over continuing to operate in the gray area of "case-by-case enforcement by regulatory agencies." This is a direct rejection of the SEC-led approach of "litigation instead of legislation" seen in recent years.

57%｜Legislate first, iterate later. 57% of voters believe that rather than waiting for a perfect bill, it's better to pass the current version first and refine it over time. This echoes the legislative principle of "don't let perfect be the enemy of good" and reduces political阻力 during the bill's advancement.

56%｜Willing to take risks to gain leadership. Even if it means accepting the risks inherent in the crypto market, 56% of voters believe the U.S. should "take over" this market through clear regulation. In other words, voter concern about "letting the market flow overseas" has surpassed the worry about "regulation causing trouble itself."

Voters Want the U.S. to Maintain Leadership in Cryptocurrency

Although most voters are not familiar with the technical details of digital assets, they show a strong, broad, and stable demand for U.S. leadership and clear federal rules.

A 70% majority of voters believe the U.S. should have passed clear cryptocurrency legislation long ago; 62% of voters say it is very important for the U.S. to set global rules for digital finance.

Voters also do not support continuing with case-by-case enforcement: 60% support clear federal legislation, even if it is imperfect; 57% believe it is better to pass partial legislation now and improve it gradually than to wait for a perfect law.

Even when trade-offs are clearly stated, voters still lean toward action. 56% of voters believe the U.S. should take the lead in the crypto market through clear regulation, even if it means accepting the associated risks.

Overall, these results indicate that voters are not asking Congress to continue debating "whether to act," but are demanding that Congress act quickly, clearly, and at the federal level.

Offshore Centralization is an Important but Underappreciated Issue

Voters support U.S. regulation. The high concentration of crypto trading platforms overseas provides another concrete reason for voters to support federal crypto regulation rules.

The survey shows that voters are generally unaware of how much digital asset market activity occurs outside U.S. jurisdiction; however, once they learn this fact, few find it acceptable.

· Only one-third of voters know that eight of the world's top ten cryptocurrency trading platforms are headquartered outside the U.S.

· Upon learning this fact, 46% of voters believe that most crypto trading occurring outside U.S. regulation is, at least to some extent, a problem; only 13% see it as no problem or even as a good thing.

National Security is a Key Factor Driving Voter Support for Federal Action

When the issue is framed in terms of national security, voter concern that foreign-controlled digital payment systems could weaken U.S. security and the global status of the dollar intensifies.

· 56% of voters believe that if future digital payment systems are built and controlled by countries other than the U.S., it would weaken U.S. national security. Only 22% believe it would strengthen U.S. national security.

· More than two in five voters believe that if stablecoins issued by foreign entities become dominant, it would weaken the global status of the U.S. dollar; only 17% believe it would strengthen the dollar's position.

Voters Have Long Wanted Better Rules and Regulation for Digital Assets

The demand for federal action did not start with the current debate. Over the past three years, multiple HarrisX studies have shown that voters consistently prefer clearer rules, stronger safeguards, and a more proactive U.S. regulatory approach to digital assets.

Findings from our previous research include:

· Voters want clear crypto rules, not regulation by enforcement. In a 2024 study, voters supported clear rules over enforcement-based regulation by a margin of 48% to 23%; by 2025, this gap remained largely unchanged, with 49% supporting clear rules and 26% supporting enforcement.

· Voters believe the U.S. is falling behind, creating a leadership gap. In 2024 and 2025, only about one in five voters thought the U.S. was leading in crypto regulation, while 36% believed the U.S. had fallen behind.

· But voters want the U.S. to lead in this field. In 2025, 69% of registered voters and 84% of crypto investors said it is very important for the U.S. to lead the world in blockchain technology development; 82% of voters supported Congress establishing stricter rules for crypto trading platforms and brokers.

Note 2: Sources include a HarrisX/Blockchain Association survey conducted October 25-28, 2024, of 1,717 U.S. registered voters, and a HarrisX/Blockchain Association survey conducted December 3-4, 2025, of 1,861 U.S. registered voters.

The CLARITY Act Receives Bipartisan Support

After receiving a neutral description, 52% of voters support the CLARITY Act, while 11% oppose it. Support has bipartisan characteristics, and a large persuadable middle group exists.

Voter awareness of the bill is currently low

· 64% of voters have not heard of the CLARITY Act; 14% say they have heard a lot about it, and 22% say they have heard a little.

· The first explanation voters hear about the bill will define the ceiling of its political support. The neutral description used in this survey resulted in solid majority support.

After receiving a neutral description, support is strong, and opposition is limited

Survey Question CL12: The CLARITY Act would clarify which federal agency, the SEC or the CFTC, regulates different types of digital assets; establish registration rules for cryptocurrency trading platforms and custodians; and establish consumer protection standards for the industry. Based solely on this description, would you support or oppose this legislation?

The CLARITY Act receives strong support among key groups

· Support is clearly bipartisan: Net support is +48 among Republican voters, +43 among Democratic voters, +52 among likely midterm voters, and +32 among Independent voters.

· Only 10% of Independent voters oppose the bill; the vast majority are in the persuadable middle ground: 47% neither support nor oppose it.

· Support is highest among voters most familiar with the issue: net support is +57 among cryptocurrency holders, +55 among voters familiar with digital assets, and +49 among voters aware of the CLARITY Act. Education and information exposure increase support.

Support for the CLARITY Act is built on broader national security concerns

When asked which reason best supports passing the CLARITY Act, voters' answers included:

· National Security & Dollar Dominance (23%): "Keeping the U.S. dollar and American payment systems at the center of global finance is a national security priority."

· Law Enforcement & Illicit Finance (17%)

· Consumer Protection & Fraud Prevention (16%)

· Jobs & Businesses Leaving the U.S. (11%)

Electoral Impact of Supporting the CLARITY Act

Voting to pass the CLARITY Act is a clear electoral positive across party lines. Nearly half of voters say such an issue could lead them to cross party lines.

Senators who vote for the CLARITY Act will gain support among various voter groups

37% of voters say they would be more likely to support a senator who voted for the CLARITY Act; 17% say they would be less likely; 46% say it would have no impact. Overall, the net gain is +20.

This impact is strongest among Republican voters, with 44% saying they would be more likely to support; it is also positive among Democratic voters at 37%; and 31% among Independent voters.

Cross-Party Appeal: 47% of voters would consider changing their party vote based on this issue

· In a midterm environment where most issues reinforce existing party divisions, the CLARITY Act is one of the few legislative issues that can potentially create cross-party movement.

· 47% of voters say that if a candidate supports the CLARITY Act but their preferred party does not, they would at least somewhat consider voting for a candidate outside their preferred party.

· Among cryptocurrency holders, voters familiar with digital assets, and voters aware of the CLARITY Act, this willingness to cross party lines is even higher, reaching 72%, 67%, and 67%, respectively.

A majority of voters say this issue will influence their 2026 vote

· 52% of voters say a candidate's position on cryptocurrency regulation will be "extremely important" or "somewhat important" to their vote in the 2026 midterm elections.

· Among cryptocurrency holders, this figure rises to 78%; among voters familiar with digital assets, it is 74%.

· Issue intensity is at a moderate level, with 16% of voters saying it is "extremely important." While it is not yet a top-tier voting driver, it has broad political reach: many voters are willing to include crypto regulation in their 2026 vote calculus.

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