Crypto market eyes rules as CLARITY Act targets April 2026

• Lyla Velez
• February 19, 2026
• News
• 0 Comments

Key Points:

• April passage hinges on Senate compromises and SEC’s decisive enforcement stance.
• Garlinghouse sees 80–90% odds for CLARITY Act approval by April 2026.
• Institutional pressure grows; Goldman Sachs backs clear framework; Senate committees negotiate.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has said there is roughly an 80–90% chance the U.S. crypto market structure legislation, commonly called the CLARITY Act, will pass by April 2026. His public optimism underscores that Senate compromises and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s role remain decisive.

The April timeline has been floated inside the Senate, with Sen. Bernie Moreno forecasting passage by then, as reported by Incrypted. Whether that target holds will depend on committee negotiations and cross‑chamber alignment. A third round of White House crypto talks slated for Thursday aims to resolve remaining disputes, according to Stocktwits News.

Institutional stakeholders are also pushing for certainty. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon recently called for a clearly defined national framework for crypto, according to TradingView. House momentum adds pressure for a spring window; Rep. Tom Emmer has said the Senate is likely to take up sweeping market‑structure reforms this session, as reported by Axios.

What the CLARITY Act is and why it matters now

The CLARITY Act is a market‑structure package meant to resolve jurisdictional boundaries, especially SEC versus CFTC oversight, set clearer rules for stablecoins, and outline treatment for decentralized finance. As summarized by KuCoin News, supporters view it as a path to reduce ambiguity after years of fragmented enforcement.

Backers argue predictable guardrails could lower compliance friction and broaden institutional participation. Editorially, this is why industry leaders frame the bill as usable rather than perfect. “A win‑win‑win outcome for the crypto market structure bill,” said Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, as reported by FXStreet.

Skeptics counter that the current text may under‑regulate DeFi and weaken investor protections. According to Liccardo.House.gov coverage of a minority‑day hearing, Democratic‑aligned experts warned that traditional finance firms could exploit loopholes. Separately, Crypto Briefing relayed Charles Hoskinson’s concern that compromise‑driven drafting could hand excessive power to regulators.

Process remains the near‑term risk. Senate markup has stalled at points and some industry support has wavered over specific provisions, according to Investopedia. That raises the likelihood of late edits if leaders aim to keep an April window realistic.

Stablecoin regulation and yield debate: pivotal sticking point

Negotiations have zeroed in on stablecoin rules, particularly whether and how yield is permitted. As reported by Decrypt, that dispute has slowed Senate Banking Committee progress and shapes banks’ willingness to participate in issuance and distribution.

The policy design questions are granular: Which entities can issue, how custodial versus algorithmic models are defined, and whether yield‑bearing structures tilt products toward securities treatment. Consumer‑protection advocates warn against weakening the primary markets cop on the beat; Sen. Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns that related proposals could dilute the SEC and elevate retail risks, as reported by Business Insider.

At the time of this writing, Coinbase Global (COIN) traded near $163.24, down about 0.5%, based on data from Yahoo Finance. Market levels do not dictate policy outcomes, but they underline how sensitive listed crypto‑exposed firms are to regulatory milestones.