U.S. Senate puts off crypto Clarity Act for now as it focuses limited bandwidth elsewhere

Majority Leader John Thune started pursuing a package of nominees on Monday and expected to shift to a Russia sanctions bill Tuesday night, at which point he's set to start its cloture process. The arcane Senate procedure to manage bill debates involves a number of steps and waiting periods before legislation typically get to a final vote, and the chamber's procedures generally limit it to one disputed bill at a time. That means it's unlikely the body can move on the Clarity Act before the other matters get sorted or expire, which could take days.

The Russia bill would impose sanctions on the country's leadership and tariffs for trading partners, and it's dedicated now to the recently deceased senator who supported it, Lindsey Graham. Plus, Graham's funeral this week will occupy the chamber's attention Tuesday and Wednesday , in Washington and South Carolina.