Coinbase, Grayscale See U.S. Crypto Regulatory Clarity Advancing Despite CLARITY Act

U.S. crypto regulatory clarity is continuing to advance even if the CLARITY Act fails to pass in 2026, according to comments from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl.

The views were highlighted by @WuBlockchain Armstrong told CNBC that the CLARITY Act is close to securing enough Senate support, with remaining disagreements largely centered on issues including ethics provisions. The bill is expected to face a key Senate vote on Sept. 15, with the 60-vote threshold remaining the main hurdle.

CLARITY Act Faces Key Senate Vote

Armstrong said passage of the CLARITY Act could unlock additional institutional capital and support the development of products such as tokenized equities in the United States.

The Senate vote therefore represents an important test for the legislation and its prospects of establishing a broader framework for the U.S. digital-asset industry. The requirement to reach 60 votes remains the immediate legislative challenge as lawmakers work through the remaining disagreements.

For crypto companies and institutional investors, legislation establishing clearer rules could reduce uncertainty around the regulatory treatment of digital assets and potentially provide greater confidence for new financial products.

Grayscale Sees Regulatory Progress Beyond CLARITY

Pandl offered a broader assessment, arguing that regulatory clarity is already improving even without the CLARITY Act. He pointed to developments involving stablecoins, token issuance, tokenized securities and regulated perpetual futures.

That perspective means the industry's regulatory trajectory does not necessarily Cryptocurrency depend entirely on the outcome of a single piece of legislation. Even if CLARITY fails in 2026, Armstrong and Pandl said the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission could still advance rules that provide the crypto sector with a clearer regulatory framework.

The distinction could be important for institutional adoption. Regulatory progress through agency rules and markets infrastructure may continue even if Congress does not deliver the legislation currently under consideration.

The immediate milestone remains the Sept. 15 Senate vote and whether the CLARITY Act can secure the required 60 votes. Its outcome will provide a clearer indication of whether Congress will establish a comprehensive framework or whether regulatory agencies will remain the primary route for further U.S. crypto policy development.

Writer: Victoria Hale
Technology & Blockchain Writer

Victoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.

She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.