‘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.'

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