The US digital asset market is abuzz with renewed optimism as prospects for regulatory clarity appear to be nearing fruition. A prominent industry voice has offered a potential timeline for landmark legislation, a sentiment strongly echoed by a notable surge in prediction market confidence, signaling a pivotal moment for cryptocurrency innovation and investment.
Growing Momentum for the CLARITY Act
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently highlighted a compelling April window for the potential passage of the US CLARITY Act, a bill designed to establish much-needed regulatory guidelines for digital assets. This optimistic forecast is significantly bolstered by data from Polymarket, where traders now place an 85% probability on the legislation being signed into law in 2026. This substantial increase from earlier projections reflects a capital-weighted sentiment, indicating a concrete belief among market participants that long-standing regulatory uncertainty may finally be drawing to a close, moving beyond mere industry advocacy to become a tangible expectation.
Industry Perspectives and Future Impact
Garlinghouse, a vocal advocate for clear market-structure legislation, particularly in light of Ripple's prolonged legal battles, emphasizes that regulatory ambiguity has actively pushed innovation offshore and disadvantaged US-based crypto firms. While the anticipation is widespread, complete industry consensus remains elusive, with some firms expressing reservations concerning specific details of the CLARITY Act, such as the division of authority between regulators and the classification of certain crypto products. Despite these nuances, the convergence of strong executive support and rising market probabilities suggests that the CLARITY Act is increasingly viewed as a medium-term structural shift for the industry, rather than an immediate market catalyst, poised to become one of the most consequential regulatory milestones to date for the US crypto landscape.
