Last-minute CLARITY Act revision targets XRP legal status

The legislative expansion, which grew the bill from 616 to 635 pages, arrives as a tactical maneuver to secure Democratic support. By defining network tokens whose value relies on entrepreneurial efforts as commodities, the draft attempts to codify the split between institutional and programmatic sales that was established by a 2023 district court ruling. This definition is designed to bypass the concentration argument that has long hindered XRP’s status, effectively insulating the asset from the legal risks associated with Ripple’s large balance sheet holdings.

This late-stage insertion coincides with White House concessions on conflict-of-interest rules and state-level enforcement powers—provisions that previously stalled negotiations. Because the cloture vote on September 15 only initiates debate, the new language remains vulnerable to removal during the amendment process. For XRP holders, the move represents a significant, though preliminary, step toward statutory certainty. However, as the provision lacks a formal committee record or extensive deliberation, it remains one of the most exposed elements of the bill should the legislative coalition fracture during upcoming floor debates.