Ripple CLO Urges Senators to Meet Crypto Holders Before CLARITY Act Vote
Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty is making a direct appeal to U.S. lawmakers ahead of a crucial Senate vote on the CLARITY Act. Alderoty wants senators to meet ordinary Americans who own cryptocurrency before deciding whether to advance the legislation.
The request comes as the crypto industry intensifies its lobbying campaign ahead of a September 15 procedural vote. The vote could determine whether the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act moves forward in the Senate, making the coming days particularly important for the U.S. crypto industry.
Alderoty, who also serves as president of the National Cryptocurrency Association, argues that lawmakers should hear directly from crypto users rather than relying only on industry executives, lobbyists or financial institutions. His message is aimed at putting individual holders at the center of the regulatory debate.
The National Cryptocurrency Association estimates that approximately 67 million Americans currently own cryptocurrency. Its 2026 research says one in four U.S. adults holds digital assets, with ownership spread across different regions, income groups and professions.
Ripple Puts Crypto Holders at Center of Debate
In his latest message, Alderoty said Senate offices should meet a real crypto holder before voting on the CLARITY Act. He pointed to teachers, plumbers, photographers and supply-chain managers as examples of the Americans who now make up a much broader crypto-owning population.
The argument is designed to challenge the idea that cryptocurrency remains a niche financial product used mainly by technology workers and professional traders. NCA research shows that crypto ownership has expanded across age groups, occupations and regions, while practical uses such as payments and transfers have also increased.
The lobbying effort comes at a difficult moment for the legislation. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on September 15, with the motion to proceed requiring 60 votes. Supporters are pushing for the bill to move forward, while opponents have raised concerns about issues including ethics provisions, consumer protections and potential effects on the banking system.
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The CLARITY Act is intended to establish clearer rules for digital assets and define the respective roles of U.S. financial regulators. Supporters argue that greater certainty could allow crypto companies to operate and invest in the United States without facing years of regulatory ambiguity.
For Ripple, the legislation has particular significance. The company has spent years arguing for clearer rules around digital assets, and Alderoty previously described September 15 as a key test for the bill’s prospects. He has also warned that regulatory uncertainty could encourage crypto-related businesses and jobs to move offshore.
September 15 Could Define the Next Phase
The latest push also shows how the industry’s political strategy is changing. Instead of focusing exclusively on major companies and institutional players, crypto advocates are increasingly emphasizing the size and diversity of the American ownership base.
That argument could carry weight with lawmakers approaching the 2026 midterm elections. Reuters reported that crypto groups and banking organizations have taken their lobbying campaigns directly into senators’ home states during the congressional recess, with both sides seeking to influence the upcoming vote.
The bill still faces significant opposition. Critics have argued that the legislation does not go far enough on safeguards and could create risks for the traditional banking system. Those disagreements mean that simply demonstrating widespread crypto ownership will not resolve the policy questions surrounding the legislation.
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Still, the size of the holder base gives the industry a different political argument than it had several years ago. If roughly one in four American adults owns crypto, decisions about digital-asset regulation increasingly affect ordinary voters rather than a small group of technology companies and speculative traders.
The September 15 vote therefore carries significance beyond a single piece of legislation. A successful procedural vote would keep the CLARITY Act moving through the Senate and potentially bring the United States closer to a formal market-structure framework. A failure could prolong uncertainty and force the industry to rely more heavily on regulatory actions and future congressional negotiations.
For Ripple and the broader crypto industry, Alderoty’s message is ultimately straightforward: lawmakers should understand who owns these assets before deciding how to regulate them. Whether that argument changes enough votes remains uncertain, but with the Senate’s procedural test approaching, the battle over CLARITY has clearly moved into its final stretch.
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