As pressure builds in Washington to finally resolve years of regulatory uncertainty, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has publicly backed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s renewed push for Congress to pass the long-debated CLARITY Act.
The endorsement came shortly after Bessent urged lawmakers to move the bill forward, warning that unclear regulations are driving crypto innovation and investment out of the United States and into more structured jurisdictions like Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
Garlinghouse echoed that urgency in a brief but pointed response on social media, signalling that the industry may be willing to accept progress now rather than wait for a perfect framework.
Progress > Perfection https://t.co/4QvjNXJSoC
— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) April 9, 2026
The Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act is designed to establish clear federal rules for how cryptocurrencies are classified and regulated, addressing long-standing confusion between agencies like the SEC and CFTC. The bill has been in development for years and passed the House of Representatives in 2025, but remains stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over key provisions.
Industry and government align on urgency
The latest push reflects a rare moment of alignment between government officials and major crypto industry players. Bessent has framed the legislation as critical not just for innovation, but for national competitiveness, arguing that the U.S. risks falling behind if regulatory clarity is not established quickly.
Other voices within the ecosystem, including regulators and exchange leaders, have also signalled readiness to implement the framework once Congress acts, highlighting how much of the industry is effectively waiting on legislative movement.
RELATED: US CLARITY Act Delays Trigger $925 Million Outflows From Digital Asset Funds
Senate gridlock keeps bill in limbo
Despite growing momentum, the CLARITY Act remains stuck in the Senate, where disagreements, particularly around how stablecoin rewards should be treated, continue to delay progress.
The delay has had tangible effects. Industry leaders argue that without clear rules, institutional capital remains sidelined and companies continue to expand offshore, where regulatory expectations are more defined.
For now, the message from both policymakers and industry executives is becoming harder to ignore: the longer Congress waits, the more the U.S. risks losing its position at the centre of the global crypto economy.
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