The CLARITY Act just passed a key milestone in the U.S. Senate with a bipartisan 15-9 vote. This historic bill for crypto regulation could redefine the market, but its legislative journey remains strewn with pitfalls.
In brief
- The CLARITY Act passed in Senate committee by a vote of 15 to 9, with bipartisan support.
- The text must still obtain 60 votes in the Senate and be reconciled with the House version.
- Despite the legislative progress, Bitcoin fell by almost 2% in 24 hours.
Clarity Act: a historic vote in the Senate committee
On May 14, 2026, the Senate Banking Committee approved the Clarity Act by a vote of 15 to 9! With bipartisan support (all Republicans + 2 Democrats: Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks). This text, which aims to clarify the crypto regulatory framework, now goes to the plenary vote in the Senate, where it will need to obtain 60 votes to be adopted. A reconciliation with the House version (adopted in July 2025) will then be necessary before a possible signature by Donald Trump.
The crypto market reacted instantly. Indeed, Bitcoin came close to $82,000, Circle jumped 19.9% and Coinbase 6.1%. Prediction markets now give a 70% chance that the text will be adopted in 2026, compared to 61% before the vote. However, tensions persist over ethical provisions. In particular, around conflicts of interest linked to crypto assets, a subject raised by Democrats like Elizabeth Warren.
Crypto: why is bitcoin collapsing despite the Clarity Act in the Senate?
Despite euphoria around the Clarity Act and a sudden rise, bitcoin fell almost 2% in 24 hours after the announcement. Several possible explanations:
- Profit taking after the initial increase to $82,000;
- Or a distrust of crypto investors in the face of persistent uncertainties. Indeed, the text must still obtain 60 votes in the Senate and then be reconciled with the House version. And this, with no guarantee of success.
Additionally, debates over banning government officials from holding crypto assets could delay or weaken the project. Finally, the market may be anticipating a legislative slowdown. If the text is not adopted before 2026, the next viable window would not be until 2030, according to Senator Lummis. A technical correction after a bullish week cannot be ruled out either.
The Clarity Act marks a giant step forward for crypto, but its impact remains uncertain. BTC shows that investors remain cautious. And you, do you think that this regulation will be enough to stabilize the market?
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