Trump Pushes Congress to Pass Crypto Clarity Act

President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act during a White House event, signaling a push for legislative progress on crypto market structure [2]. The move, which follows meetings between industry executives and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, has fueled market optimism regarding the bill’s chances of becoming law in 2026 [1].

Legislative momentum and industry reaction

The push for the Clarity Act comes as the administration seeks to establish consistent rules for digital assets to maintain a competitive edge against international rivals, specifically China [2]. During the event, President Trump described the legislation as "very bipartisan," though he acknowledged that specific language remains a point of debate between Republican and Democratic lawmakers [2].

Crypto executives, including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick prior to the main event to discuss remaining obstacles, such as ethics concerns [1]. Following the summit, industry leaders expressed readiness to finalize the bill, with Armstrong urging the public to contact lawmakers ahead of the Senate’s scheduled vote on September 15 [1]. Garlinghouse emphasized the scale of the industry, noting that approximately 67 million Americans—nearly one in four—now hold crypto assets [1].

Market impact and price action

The legislative progress coincided with a sharp rally in XRP, which climbed more than 13% to reach $1.12 over the last 24 hours [1]. Prediction markets have also shown an increase in the probability of the Clarity Act being signed into law this year, reflecting a shift in sentiment following the White House gathering [1].

The event served as a precursor to the first meeting of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Innovation Advisory Committee, which includes a broad roster of executives from companies such as Kraken, Grayscale, and Anchorage Digital [2]. While the administration has signaled strong support, the path to passage remains dependent on resolving the outstanding legislative disagreements that have previously stalled the bill in the Senate [2].

What to watch

• September 15 Senate Vote: Monitor for official developments or changes to the legislative schedule ahead of the targeted vote date [1].
• Bipartisan Ethics Counteroffer: Watch for updates on the pending ethics negotiations, which remain a primary hurdle for the bill’s passage [1].
• Regulatory Alignment: Observe the actions of the CFTC and SEC, as regulators Paul Atkins and Michael Selig have signaled alignment with the administration’s push for structured legislation [1].

The central question remains whether the administration can bridge the remaining partisan gaps in the Senate to turn the proposed framework into law. With the industry actively mobilizing its voter base, the coming weeks will determine if the current momentum is sufficient to clear the legislative finish line.