SEC’s Paul Atkins Pushes Congress to Sign CLARITY Act

TLDR:

• SEC Chair Paul Atkins urges Congress to pass the CLARITY Act for clear crypto rules. 
• Senate Agriculture Committee advances bill expanding CFTC authority over digital assets. 
• Industry leaders like Coinbase and Ripple welcome clarity for institutional participation. 
• Prediction markets show growing confidence that the CLARITY Act will pass in 2026. 

The CLARITY Act is gaining momentum as SEC Chair Paul Atkins urges Congress to act. The bill seeks to define crypto market rules, protect consumers, and provide legal certainty for both retail and institutional participants in the U.S.

SEC Chair Calls for Immediate Congressional Action

SEC Chair Paul Atkins has publicly urged Congress to pass the CLARITY Act without delay. He stated that current frameworks for cryptocurrency oversight are insufficient to guide the rapidly evolving industry. 

The emphasis is on creating rules through legislation rather than relying on enforcement actions or lawsuits. Atkins highlighted that regulatory uncertainty has become a risk to the market rather than a safeguard for investors. 

He emphasized the importance of clearly defining jurisdiction, protecting consumers, and allowing institutions to operate with legal certainty. The SEC is actively seeking congressional support to implement these measures.

During a joint session with CFTC Chair Michael Salig, both regulators confirmed their commitment to harmonizing regulatory approaches. 

The collaboration aims to provide confidence to market participants and ensure that the United States maintains a leadership position in the global cryptocurrency market.

Coinbase’s chief policy officer described the session as “extremely impressive,” noting Chairman Salig’s focus on bringing global crypto markets back to U.S. oversight. 

The CLARITY Act is not intended to boost prices but to provide clear rules, allowing both retail and institutional participants to operate with certainty.

Atkins also indicated that delay is no longer acceptable. By publicly urging Congress, the SEC signals that a clear regulatory framework is essential for stable and predictable market operations.

Legislative and Industry Support Builds

The Senate Agriculture Committee recently voted 12-11 to advance cryptocurrency market structure legislation, expanding CFTC authority over digital commodities, including Bitcoin.

The bill complements the CLARITY Act framework passed by the House in 2025 and seeks to clarify the roles of the SEC and CFTC in market oversight.

Industry leaders have welcomed this development. Brad Garlinghouse of Ripple Labs stated, “Clarity is better than chaos.” Coinbase worked with banking institutions to rewrite parts of the market structure bill, addressing the concerns of both traditional and digital finance stakeholders.

Prediction markets tracking the bill show odds of passage rising from 20% to 60%, reflecting growing confidence among investors and policymakers. White House crypto czar David Sacks has convened meetings with banks, trade groups, and crypto firms to discuss the CLARITY Act.

If this momentum continues, the legislation could mark the end of the “wild west” environment for U.S. crypto markets. Clearer rules are expected to foster broader institutional participation, provide legal certainty, and support long-term growth across the digital asset ecosystem.

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