Crypto: The CLARITY Act Passes the Senate in a Bipartisan 15-9 Vote

The CLARITY Act has just passed a key milestone in the US Senate with a bipartisan 15-9 vote. This historic bill for crypto regulation could redefine the market, but its legislative journey remains fraught with challenges.

Clarity Act: a historic vote in the Senate committee

On May 14, 2026, the Senate Banking Committee approved the Clarity Act by 15 votes to 9! With bipartisan support (all Republicans + 2 Democrats: Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks). This bill, which seeks to clarify the crypto regulatory framework, now moves to the full Senate vote, where it must obtain 60 votes to be passed. A reconciliation with the House version (adopted in July 2025) will then be necessary before a possible signing by Donald Trump.

The crypto market reacted instantly. Indeed, Bitcoin nearly reached 82,000 dollars, Circle surged 19.9%, and Coinbase 6.1%. Prediction markets now give a 70% chance that the bill will be adopted in 2026, compared to 61% before the vote. However, tensions persist over ethical provisions. Notably, regarding conflicts of interest related to crypto assets, a topic championed by Democrats like Elizabeth Warren.

Crypto: why is Bitcoin crashing despite the Clarity Act in the Senate?

Despite the euphoria around the Clarity Act and a sudden rise, Bitcoin fell nearly 2% in 24 hours after the announcement. Several possible explanations:

• Profit-taking after the initial rise to 82,000 dollars;
• Or crypto investors’ distrust given persistent uncertainties. Indeed, the bill still needs 60 votes in the Senate and must be reconciled with the House version. And this, without guarantee of success.

Furthermore, debates on banning government officials from holding crypto assets could delay or weaken the project. Finally, the market may be anticipating legislative slowdown. If the bill is not passed before 2026, the next viable window would only be in 2030, according to Senator Lummis. A technical correction after a bullish week is also not to be excluded.

The Clarity Act marks a giant step for crypto, but its impact remains uncertain. The BTC, for its part, shows that investors remain cautious. And you, do you think this regulation will be enough to stabilize the market?