U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that Congress should quickly introduce the Clarity Act to give investors and companies a better sense of what counts as permissible activity in cryptocurrency markets. He argued that clearer rules would serene the recent volatility that investors have seen and assist restore confidence.
Senators have hit a wall on Stablecoin rules
Based on reportsthe bill divided the committee leaders. The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced part of the market structure plan, while the Senate Banking Committee paused planned markups after intense pushback over language that would limit the profitability of stablecoins. This split helped prompt major industry players to withdraw support, changing the path forward.
Emphasis on transition before spring
Reports say some lawmakers want the regulation ready for the president’s signature this spring. Proponents say speed matters; critics say the rush could result in regulations that harm legitimate services.
Some supporters of the decision are discussing US President Donald Trump’s confirmation as a short-term endgame, with both Republican and Democratic senators urged to find common ground.
The White House tried to negotiate a deal
Reports indicate that the White House has called meetings with bank and cryptocurrency executives in… effort to fill the gaps, but discussions ended without agreement.
White House advisers, including Patrick Witt, played a key role in this conversations. The key point of contention remains whether stablecoin interest and reward programs should be capped, and how stringent such caps would be.
Market reaction and what it means
Based on market notes, Bitcoin and other digital assets have shown up-to-date volatility in recent days, with some traders welcoming talk of a clear U.S. framework as a stabilizing signal while others feared the details could depress revenues for exchanges and lenders.
Coinbase’s public withdrawal of support changed the political math and sent stock and cryptocurrency prices soaring.
Who will win and who will lose in the hand
Reports show that banks are in favor of stringent limits stablecoin profitability to avoid the flight of deposits to crypto platforms. Exchanges, however, argue that rewards assist users and cutting them would reduce competition and innovation.
Lawmakers will have to balance consumer protection, systemic risk and commercial freedom. The final version may look completely different than what’s currently on the table.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
