How much of a variable does the "CLARITY Act" bring to the 2026 midterm elections?

Title: National survey of voters shows bipartisan support for American leadership in cryptocurrencies and passing the CLARITY Act.
Author: HarrisX
Translation: Peggy, BlockBeats

Author: Rhythm BlockBeats

Source:

Reprint: Mars Finance

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

HarrisX survey shows that voters nationwide not only cross party lines support the U.S. maintaining leadership in digital finance and cryptocurrencies but also broadly support passing the CLARITY Act.

This bill was originally a regulatory framework legislation, focusing on clarifying the regulatory boundaries between the SEC and CFTC for digital assets, establishing registration rules for exchanges and custodians, and strengthening consumer protections. But according to HarrisX’s survey results, its political significance has gone beyond the crypto industry itself: 37% of voters say they are more likely to support a senator if that senator votes in favor of the bill; overall, supporting the CLARITY Act can bring a net electoral gain of 20 percentage points.

Even more noteworthy is the bipartisan shift. The survey shows that 47% of voters would consider voting for a candidate outside their preferred party if that candidate supports the CLARITY Act, even if their original party does not support it. This proportion is even higher among cryptocurrency holders, voters familiar with digital assets, and those who understand the bill.

This means that the CLARITY Act is not just a legislative attempt by the crypto industry to seek regulatory clarity; it could also become a campaign issue to attract young voters, crypto holders, and swing voters. For U.S. politics, the core issue of crypto regulation is shifting from “whether to regulate” to “who can mobilize votes using it.”

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 (H.R. 3633), currently under review in Congress, will clarify three things: whether different types of digital assets are regulated by the SEC or CFTC, registration rules for crypto exchanges and custodians, and industry-level consumer protection standards. It is one of the most important digital asset legislations Congress has considered so far.

Building on long-term public opinion research, HarrisX conducted a nationwide survey of 2,008 registered voters to measure four things: voters’ awareness and holdings of digital assets, their attitude toward U.S. leadership in digital finance, their support for the CLARITY Act, and whether candidates’ positions on crypto regulation will influence the 2026 midterm elections.

Among the top ten global cryptocurrency exchanges, eight are headquartered outside the U.S. If the U.S. delays establishing clear federal rules as digital payment systems and stablecoin infrastructure accelerate worldwide, it risks ceding dominance of a strategic financial technology to overseas jurisdictions—potentially impacting national security, the global status of the dollar, developer and business retention, and America’s overall competitiveness in fintech innovation.

Both bipartisan voters recognize this risk and want Congress to act quickly.

The necessity of U.S. leadership and clear federal rules

Voters’ understanding of digital assets remains limited, but their views are clear and consistent: the U.S. should establish rules for digital finance, and it should do so promptly.

Awareness of digital assets is still low, but crypto holders form a sizable voting bloc

• 39% of voters say they are familiar with digital assets and blockchain technology; 61% are not.
• Two in five voters have purchased cryptocurrency, and 30% have done so in the past year.
• Familiarity and holdings are mainly concentrated among men and voters under 35.

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.

• 70% believe the U.S. should have long passed clear crypto legislation; 62% think it’s very important for the U.S. to set global digital finance rules.
• Voters also oppose continuing case-by-case enforcement: 60% prefer clear federal legislation even if imperfect; 57% believe it’s better to pass partial legislation now and improve it gradually later.
• Even when acknowledging trade-offs, voters lean toward action: 56% think the U.S. should use clear regulation to dominate the crypto market, even if it entails risks.

Overall, these results indicate that voters are not asking Congress to debate “whether to act,” but rather to act quickly, clearly, and at the federal level.

Offshore centralization is an important but under-recognized issue

Voters support U.S. regulation. The high concentration of crypto exchanges overseas provides another concrete reason for voter support for federal crypto regulation rules.

Survey shows that voters generally do not know how much digital asset activity occurs outside U.S. regulation; but once aware, few consider this acceptable.

• Only one-third of voters know that eight of the top ten global crypto exchanges are headquartered outside the U.S.
• After learning this, 46% believe that most crypto trading occurs outside U.S. regulation, at least to some extent, which is problematic; only 13% think it’s not an issue or even a good thing.

National security is a key factor driving voter support for federal action

When framed within national security, concerns about foreign control of digital payment systems that could weaken U.S. security and the dollar’s global position intensify.

• 56% believe that if future digital payment systems are built and controlled by countries outside the U.S., it will weaken national security; only 22% think it will strengthen it.
• Over two in five voters believe that if foreign-issued stablecoins dominate, it will weaken the dollar’s global standing; only 17% think it will enhance it.

Voters have long desired better rules and regulation for digital assets

The demand for federal action is not new. Over the past three years, HarrisX studies have consistently shown that voters prefer clearer rules, stronger protections, and more proactive regulation by the U.S. government.

Previous findings include:

• Voters want clear crypto rules, not enforcement-based regulation. In a 2024 study, 48% favored clear rules over 23% for enforcement; by 2025, the gap remained similar, with 49% supporting clear rules and 26% enforcement.
• Voters see the U.S. falling behind, creating a leadership gap. In 2024 and 2025, only about one in five voters believed the U.S. was leading in crypto regulation, while 36% thought it was lagging.
• But voters want the U.S. to lead in this space. In 2025, 69% of registered voters and 84% of crypto investors believed U.S. leadership in blockchain development was very important; 82% supported Congress enacting stricter rules for crypto exchanges and brokers.

The CLARITY Act garners bipartisan support

After neutral descriptions, 52% of voters support the CLARITY Act, with 11% opposed. The support has a bipartisan character, and the persuadable middle group is sizable.

Current voter awareness of the bill remains low

• 64% have not heard of the CLARITY Act; 14% have heard a lot, 22% have heard a little.
• The first explanation voters hear about the bill will determine its maximum political support. The neutral description used in this survey has generated solid majority support.

Support is strong after neutral framing, with limited opposition

The CLARITY Act receives strong support among key groups:

• Support is clearly bipartisan: Republican support is +48, Democratic support +43, likely midterm voters +52, independents +32.
• Only 10% of independent voters oppose it; most are persuadable centrists: 47% are neutral.
• The most familiar voters support it most: crypto holders have a net support of +57, those familiar with digital assets +55, those aware of the CLARITY Act +49. Education and information exposure increase support.

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

When asked which reasons most support passing the CLARITY Act, voters cited:

• National security and dollar status (23%): “Keeping the dollar and U.S. payment systems at the center of global finance is a national security priority.”
• Enforcement and illegal financial activities (17%)
• Consumer protection and fraud prevention (16%)
• Jobs and companies leaving the U.S. (11%)

Electoral impact of supporting the CLARITY Act

Voting in favor of the CLARITY Act is a clear bipartisan electoral advantage. Nearly half of voters say this issue could cause them to vote across party lines.

Support for the CLARITY Act among senators influences voter support

37% of voters say they are more likely to support a senator who votes for the bill; 17% say less likely; 46% say it has no effect. Overall, the net benefit is +20.

This impact is strongest among Republican voters, with 44% more likely to support; also positive among Democrats at 37%; and 31% among independents.

Bipartisan appeal: 47% of voters would consider changing their party vote because of this issue

• In an election environment where most issues reinforce existing party divides, the CLARITY Act is one of the few legislative topics that could generate cross-party shifts.
• 47% of voters say that if a candidate supports the CLARITY Act and their preferred party does not, they would at least consider voting for a candidate outside their party.
• Among crypto holders, those familiar with digital assets, and those aware of the CLARITY Act, this willingness to cross party lines is even higher, at 72%, 67%, and 67%, respectively.

Most voters say this issue will influence their 2026 vote

• 52% say a candidate’s stance on crypto regulation will be “extremely important” or “somewhat important” in their 2026 midterm vote.
• Among crypto holders, this rises to 78%; among voters familiar with digital assets, 74%.
• The issue’s importance is moderate, with 16% saying it is “extremely important.” While not the top voting driver, it has broad political reach: many voters are willing to factor crypto regulation into their 2026 voting decisions.

Crypto voters are a sizable and influential voting bloc

In addition to general voter support for the CLARITY Act, the survey shows that mobilizing crypto voters has unique political value. Crypto voters are a sizable, influential group; HarrisX’s previous research indicates they are highly engaged, issue-driven, and willing to cross party lines when candidates’ crypto policies align with their views:

• High engagement: 92% of crypto holders plan to vote in the 2024 U.S. elections.
• Issue-driven: 49% of U.S. voters consider candidate support for pro-crypto policies important; among crypto holders, this rises to 85%.
• Persuadable across party lines: if candidates support their preferred pro-crypto policies, U.S. voters are more likely to vote for candidates outside their party, with a net increase of +13 percentage points; among crypto holders, this increase is +58 points.
• Influential in swing states: in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the number of issue-driven crypto voters exceeds the margin of victory in the previous presidential election.
• Recognized political force: CBS News reports that in congressional races with active crypto industry involvement, candidates supported by the crypto industry won 85% of the races.

Strategic implications

Voters’ positive response to the CLARITY Act stems from a broader issue: U.S. leadership, national security, and whether digital finance remains under American regulation.

Voters do not need to be crypto enthusiasts to support the CLARITY Act. They respond to a simple judgment: digital finance is happening regardless, much of it already moved overseas, and the U.S. should regulate it through clear federal rules.

The political case for the CLARITY Act outweighs the case against it. Senators voting for the bill will gain a +20 net electoral advantage and create conditions for bipartisan support.

For targeted voter groups, this could be a truly influential issue. Among crypto holders, digitally savvy voters, young men, and those already familiar with the CLARITY Act, this issue can sway votes or even induce cross-party voting. For the broader electorate, supporting the CLARITY Act is also a clear positive political signal.