The long-delayed CLARITY Act, a key U.S. crypto regulation bill, is back in focus after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly criticized lawmakers for dragging their feet. Speaking ahead of a high-level White House meeting scheduled for today, Bessent warned that continued delays are damaging the U.S. crypto industry and pushing innovation overseas.
Bessent said the industry can no longer afford regulatory uncertainty, stressing that clear rules are needed “now more than ever” for crypto markets to stay competitive and trusted.
Treasury Secretary Calls for Faster Crypto Regulation
In an interview with Fox News, Bessent pushed back against comments made earlier by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who had argued that “no crypto bill is better than a bad one.” That view reflects concerns among crypto companies that overly strict laws could limit innovation.
Bessent disagreed, saying that rejecting legislation outright risks keeping the industry stuck in limbo. While he admitted the current draft of the CLARITY Act does not satisfy everyone, he said compromise is unavoidable if the U.S. wants to lead in digital assets.
With Donald Trump again promising to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world,” Bessent said passing crypto legislation is inevitable. According to him, a small group of opponents should not be allowed to block progress for the entire industry.
“For crypto to move forward as a serious digital asset class, this bill needs to get done,” Bessent said.
White House Talks With Crypto Firms and Banks Resume
Today’s White House meeting brings together crypto companies, banks, and regulators for a second round of discussions aimed at breaking the deadlock. A similar meeting held last week ended without any agreement, leaving the CLARITY Act stalled in the Senate.
This round of talks is seen as especially important for stablecoin rules, which remain one of the biggest sticking points. Lawmakers are debating whether crypto companies should be allowed to offer yield-bearing stablecoins, something banks strongly oppose.
If the talks fail again, the lack of clarity could hurt market confidence and slow crypto development in the U.S., pushing more projects to move abroad.
Stablecoin Rules and Federal Reserve Payment Access
Another major issue tied to the CLARITY Act is the Federal Reserve’s proposal for so-called “skinny” master accounts. These accounts would give fintech and crypto firms limited access to the Fed’s payment systems.
Crypto companies argue this access is necessary to support stablecoin growth and improve consumer protection. Banks, however, say it would give crypto firms an unfair advantage and threaten traditional deposits.
This disagreement has become one of the biggest obstacles to passing the bill.
Market Impact If Crypto Law Remains Stalled
Crypto analyst CryptoSymbiote has warned that today’s White House meeting could actually increase pressure on crypto markets if no agreement is reached. He believes the main risk lies in the unresolved debate over stablecoin yield, with banks pushing to block it and crypto firms defending it as essential.
If lawmakers fail to settle the issue, the decision could be delayed until after the 2026 midterm elections, extending regulatory uncertainty for years.
According to CryptoSymbiote, that uncertainty—combined with broader economic stress and weak price charts—could weigh further on the market. He warned that Bitcoin could fall well below current levels before finding a more stable bottom.
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FAQs
The CLARITY Act is a proposed U.S. crypto law meant to define clear rules for digital assets, stablecoins, and oversight to reduce uncertainty for companies and investors.
The bill may decide whether crypto firms can offer yield-bearing stablecoins, a key issue that affects innovation, consumer choice, and banking competition.
Banks argue that stablecoin yield and Fed payment access for crypto firms could drain deposits and give non-banks an unfair competitive advantage.
Continued delays could weaken market confidence, slow U.S. crypto growth, and push companies abroad while increasing volatility for assets like Bitcoin.
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