‘Congress must pass the Clarity Act’ – U.S. Treasury Secretary’s plea decoded

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-04-09Last updated on 2026-04-09

Abstract

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urges Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, arguing that clear federal rules are essential to prevent the relocation of crypto development to jurisdictions like Abu Dhabi and Singapore. He warns that regulatory uncertainty in the U.S. makes the risks of operating there outweigh the benefits. The call is supported by Senator Cynthia Lummis, who believes the act would serve as a "safe harbor" for innovation. However, prediction market Polymarket indicates the odds of the bill passing by 2026 have recently dropped to 57%. Despite this, key industry figures, including Coinbase's Chief Policy Officer, express confidence that legislative progress will be made.

The discussion around the CLARITY Act is intensifying day by day, and in a recent turn of events, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also stepped in.

Urging Congress, Secretary Bessent has demanded the passage of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. Introduced in 2025, the bill is still finding common ground with both the crypto industry and the banking community, but consensus remains elusive.

Remarking on the same, Bessent said,

Congress must pass the Clarity Act. Senate floor time is scarce, and now is the time to act.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s point of argument

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Secretary drew comparisons with other countries, calling for clear federal rules for digital assets. This, in turn, he believes, would enable widespread developments and efficient investment, crucial for the largest economy by nominal GDP to prevail.

Comparing the U.S. with other countries, Bessent added,

A growing share of crypto development relocated to places ​with clear rules, such as Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Abroad, firms knew ​when and how to register, what standards to meet, and how to operate.

Highlighting the risks in the U.S., he summed it up best when he said,

The benefits of domiciling in the U.S. rarely outweighed the risks.

Needless to say, this isn’t the first time Bessent has stepped in to highlight the importance of clear rules in the digital assets space. Back in February, he had underlined that the bill would provide “great comfort to the market” in times of volatility.

Market conditions and others in support

Echoing similar sentiments, Senator Cynthia Lummis also noted,

We have the Administration, the momentum, and we’ve made bipartisan progress.

Lummis believes that the law is a one-pot solution for “developers, validators, and node operators.” And, once approved, the Act would work as “a safe harbor” to keep innovations anchored in the U.S.

All this comes on the heels of the crypto market fluctuating between $2 trillion and $3 trillion – thanks to increased volatility.

Polymarket odds

Meanwhile, the Polymarket odds for the passage of the CLARITY Act stood at 57% at the time of publication. However, if looked at carefully, the odds have dropped by 9% from their previous high, seen just weeks ago.

Source: Polymarket

At the same time, Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer (CPO) also added to the ongoing demand when he noted,

Source: X

This marks an interesting plot twist as Coinbase had recently stepped back from a recent compromise met on the CLARITY Act.

However, after the subtle threats between the White House and Coinbase, Coinbase’s CLO, Paul Grewal, turned bullish on the Act and put it best when he noted,

I’m very confident we’re going to see progress.

What’s more?

Additionally, a new report from the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers also highlighted that letting stablecoins offer yield isn’t a major threat to banks.

Thus, with so much optimism and understanding, it remains to be seen whether the CLARITY Act will be approved this year or get locked up in legislative headwinds.


Final Summary

  • The discussions around the CLARITY Act are heating up with Secretary Bessent now urging Congress to pass the Act.
  • Polymarket odds drop below 60%, adding more uncertainty to the passage of the bill by 2026.

Related Questions

QWhat is the main demand made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the article?

AScott Bessent demanded that Congress pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act to establish clear federal rules for digital assets.

QAccording to Bessent, why are some crypto firms relocating to places like Abu Dhabi and Singapore?

ABecause these locations have clear rules, where firms know when and how to register, what standards to meet, and how to operate.

QWhat are the current Polymarket odds for the passage of the CLARITY Act, and how have they changed recently?

AThe Polymarket odds stand at 57%, which is a 9% drop from their previous high seen just weeks ago.

QWhich U.S. Senator expressed support for the CLARITY Act, and what did they call it?

ASenator Cynthia Lummis expressed support, calling the Act a 'one-pot solution' for developers, validators, and node operators, and a 'safe harbor' to keep innovations in the U.S.

QWhat was the stance of Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, on the CLARITY Act after recent developments?

APaul Grewal turned bullish on the Act and expressed confidence, stating, 'I’m very confident we’re going to see progress.'

Related Reads

Will the Fed Definitely Raise Interest Rates in September? How Will Crypto and U.S. Stocks Withstand the Pressure?

The market's expectation for a September Fed rate hike surged dramatically in early August, jumping from under 50% to over 80% within a week. This shift followed a contentious July FOMC meeting, where a 9-3 vote to hold rates revealed growing dissent from hawkish members advocating for an immediate hike to combat persistent inflation. The primary catalyst for this repricing is rising oil prices, driven by renewed geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, which threaten global supply. Energy costs directly influence inflation metrics, making the upcoming July CPI report (due August 12th) a critical data point. If it shows inflation reaccelerating, the probability of a September hike will solidify. For Bitcoin and crypto assets, this is typically bearish news. Bitcoin continues to behave as a high-beta, liquidity-sensitive risk asset. A rate hike raises the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets and could drive capital toward money markets, pressuring crypto prices in the short term. However, historical patterns suggest that if a hike is perceived as the end of a tightening cycle rather than the start, any negative price impact may be brief. U.S. stocks, particularly crypto-linked equities like Coinbase and growth-oriented tech stocks, are also vulnerable. Higher rates increase discount rates in valuation models, putting pressure on high-multiple companies. This coincides with a pivotal tech earnings season where investor focus has shifted from massive AI capital expenditure to tangible revenue and cash flow generation. Companies with negative cash flow and weak growth narratives could face heightened volatility if borrowing costs rise in September. In summary, a September Fed hike has evolved into a mainstream market scenario. Key factors to watch are oil prices, the July CPI report, and Fed communications, which will determine the final decision and its impact on volatile crypto and equity markets.

marsbit3m ago

Will the Fed Definitely Raise Interest Rates in September? How Will Crypto and U.S. Stocks Withstand the Pressure?

marsbit3m ago

A 'Overlooked' Market Event: Joint US-Japan-South Korea Intervention, Rare US Treasury Involvement, and Bessent's Quiet 'Market Rescue'?

Summary: The United States, Japan, and South Korea executed their largest coordinated foreign exchange intervention in nearly 30 years. The action targeted depreciation pressure on the Japanese yen and South Korean won. This move is seen as a significant effort by the US to stabilize the financial markets of its key allies and prevent the spillover of risks. Key details: * Japan reportedly intervened on July 30 using approximately 8.45 trillion yen (about $52.8 billion). South Korean authorities also intervened that day, selling dollars to support the won. * Notably, the US Treasury Department intervened directly in yen markets for the first time in roughly 30 years. The New York Fed, reportedly acting on behalf of the Treasury, sold euros to buy yen via Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on July 31. Analysts view the use of the euro-yen pair as a way to alleviate yen pressure without adding selling pressure to the US dollar. * Prior to the action, the New York Fed conducted "rate checks" on both USD/JPY and EUR/JPY, a newer signaling tool that falls between verbal and physical intervention. The intervention is interpreted as going beyond traditional currency stabilization. Analysts, such as Michael Hartnett of Bank of America, suggest it resembles a "Price Keeping Operation" for the AI era. The core US objectives are perceived to be: 1. Preventing rapid yen depreciation from triggering a sharp rise in Japanese government bond yields. 2. Containing financial stress from spreading across Asian markets like South Korea and Japan. 3. Reducing the risk of disorderly capital flows impacting the US bond market. This coordinated action underscores the importance of Japan and South Korea as critical partners in the US semiconductor and AI supply chain. Stabilizing their financial markets is seen as vital to mitigating risks to the broader tech industry and the US market itself. The intervention coincides with market pressures, including the KOSDAQ index hitting a low since October 2022. While seen as a move to control volatility, some analysts caution it may not fundamentally reverse existing market trends.

marsbit7m ago

A 'Overlooked' Market Event: Joint US-Japan-South Korea Intervention, Rare US Treasury Involvement, and Bessent's Quiet 'Market Rescue'?

marsbit7m ago

Will the Federal Reserve Definitely Raise Interest Rates in September? How Will Cryptocurrencies and US Stocks Bear the Pressure?

In early August 2024, market expectations for a September Federal Reserve rate hike surged dramatically, from below 50% to over 80%, driven by renewed inflation concerns. This shift followed a contentious July FOMC meeting where a 9-3 vote to hold rates revealed a growing hawkish faction advocating for an immediate hike, citing prolonged above-target inflation. The key catalyst is escalating conflict near the Strait of Hormuz, which has pushed oil prices up approximately 20% in July, threatening to reignite inflation. The next critical data point is the July CPI report on August 12th; a hot reading could solidify hike expectations. For crypto assets, particularly Bitcoin, this represents near-term pressure. Bitcoin continues to exhibit high-beta, risk-on characteristics, making it sensitive to tightening liquidity and higher opportunity costs. However, historical precedent suggests that if a hike is perceived as the cycle's end rather than its start, the negative impact may be brief, with markets quickly pivoting to anticipate future rate cuts. U.S. stocks, especially crypto-linked equities like Coinbase and high-valuation tech stocks, face amplified volatility. Higher rates increase discount rates in valuation models, pressuring growth stocks. This coincides with a pivotal tech earnings season where investor focus has shifted from massive AI capital expenditures to demonstrable revenue and cash flow generation. Companies with negative cash flows and weak growth narratives could see severe pressure if a September hike materializes, as financing costs would rise. Key indicators to watch include oil prices, upcoming inflation data, and Fed commentary at events like the Jackson Hole symposium.

Odaily星球日报7m ago

Will the Federal Reserve Definitely Raise Interest Rates in September? How Will Cryptocurrencies and US Stocks Bear the Pressure?

Odaily星球日报7m ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片