CLARITY Act: April or ‘April Fools’? You Decide!

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US lawmakers and crypto leaders say a major bill could move fast. In a stunning twist, US lawmakers and crypto moguls have declared that a major bill might actually move faster than a sloth on a Sunday morning. According to an on-site interview, Senator Bernie Moreno told reporters he hopes the US CLARITY Act will clear Congress by April. A miracle, perhaps, but at least it’s a specific one.

The comment came during a recent gathering with members of the press, and it set off a flurry of reaction across markets and inside the halls of power. One might say it caused more excitement than a goat in a library.

Lawmakers And Industry At Odds Over Clarity Act

Reports note that the biggest fight left on the table is stablecoin yields. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said industry talks are more hopeful now, but he had pulled his group’s backing earlier because the bill would ban interest-bearing stablecoins and put the SEC front and center as the lead regulator. A battle of titans, or at least a battle of very serious suits.

That tug-of-war matters. Banks worry that easy yield on crypto tokens could pull deposits and weaken their model. Crypto firms counter that such products are useful and in demand. Both sides also want clear rules so firms can plan ahead. A noble goal, though one suspects the rules will be as clear as a foggy morning in a teahouse.

Policymakers Have Momentum

Based on reports, the White House reacted strongly when one major exchange stepped back from support. The executive office signaled surprise and urged quicker agreement. One might imagine the White House staff exchanging glances like, “Did we just lose our favorite toy?”

Markets noticed. Prediction markets moved, with odds on passage swinging dramatically in response to the media interview. A rollercoaster of hope and despair, if rollercoasters had a sense of humor.

Polymarket showed a sharp uptick in probability that the bill would pass – then a pullback once details were questioned. A classic case of “I’ll believe it when I see it, and even then, I might not.”

“Hopefully by April,” Moreno said during an interview at US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Wednesday. A man after my own heart, I’m sure.

What Could Break The Deal

Trump has pushed a pro-crypto message, and that helps gathering momentum among allies in Congress. But partisan lines remain. A reminder that even the most enthusiastic supporters can’t always agree on the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

If members tie the bill too closely to a single political brand, bipartisan support could fray. Also, banks and regulators are not uniform: some large institutions want stricter rules; others prefer limited, clearer guardrails that let certain products exist under oversight. A delicate balancing act, akin to walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches.

Why Fast Passage Is Uncertain

Reports say industry players want clarity asap, while some regulators want broader authority. That difference explains the public sparring. A battle of wits, if wits were as dull as a butter knife.

Negotiators can and do move quickly when leadership prioritizes a measure, yet complex financial bills often require many rounds of drafting and amendment. Even so, lawmakers and execs at industry meetings appear to be pushing hard for a resolution soon. A race against time, though time seems to be taking a nap.

If the bill clears, it could bring clearer rules for exchanges, banks, and stablecoin issuers. For investors, clarity is usually good. For firms, the shape of the final text will determine whether new products live or die. A high-stakes game of “guess the future,” with the stakes being your entire business model.

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2026-02-20 08:46