Bitcoin sentiment spikes to yearly high after CLARITY Act committee

The Senate Banking Committee cleared the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act with a 15‑9 bipartisan vote on May 14, sending Bitcoin to roughly $81,500 within an hour of the announcement【1】.

Santiment’s on‑chain analytics show the bullish‑to‑bearish comment ratio climbing to 1.55, a level the firm classifies as a “FOMO zone” and the strongest sentiment reading for Bitcoin since April 25, when it peaked at 1.58【2】. The surge reflects optimism from industry leaders—Coinbase, Circle and Ripple have all championed the bill, and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong praised the prospect of a bipartisan law cementing the U.S. as a crypto hub on social media【2】.

Historically, pro‑regulatory moves have lifted Bitcoin more gradually than other assets. The SEC’s approval of U.S. Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 sparked a rally from $41,000‑$46,000 to $70,000 by March, while the March 2025 announcement of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve saw prices hover between $80,000‑$90,000 before soaring to $126,000 in October【1】. The CLARITY Act’s committee passage mirrors those patterns: Bitcoin has stayed in a tight $80,500‑$81,500 range, suggesting the market is pricing in the bill but awaiting full Senate action before a larger breakout. Analysts project that sustained ETF inflows above $300 million daily could push Bitcoin past $85,000 before May ends, but a decisive move likely hinges on the bill clearing the full Senate【1】.

XRP’s reaction has been more volatile. After the same vote, the token briefly breached $1.50 before settling at $1.46, and a repeat of the $1.50 level could open a path to $1.80—a 20% gain—if the CLARITY Act dominates market conversation and buying pressure absorbs profit‑taking over the next two weeks【1】.

The CLARITY Act still faces a 60‑vote threshold in the full Senate, with a critical window between mid‑May and early August before summer recesses begin【2】. If the legislation stalls, sentiment could retreat, as past peaks in bullish commentary have often preceded corrections【3】.

The real question now is whether the current euphoria translates into lasting price strength or merely a short‑lived optimism spike. Bitcoin’s ability to hold above $81,000 and XRP’s capacity to reclaim $1.50 will be the litmus tests for the bill’s market impact.