Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has reportedly told Senate offices it cannot support the latest language inserted into the CLARITY Act, dealing a fresh setback to negotiations over the anticipated crypto market-structure bill. The dispute centers on newly revised provisions governing stablecoin yield arrangements, a key point of contention that has been the subject of months of talks on Capitol Hill. Coinbase Says No To Late‑Stage Compromise The Senate’s updated text would constrain how stablecoin yield programs operate, limiting structures that try to mirror bank deposit products and tightening the permissible scope of other activities. The draft leaves open questions over the mechanisms for classifying activity-based stablecoins and how transaction-reward programs would be treated. Related Reading: Bitcoin, XRP Rallies Won’t Hold Until Oil Falls Toward $80, Expert Warns Those uncertainties, combined with what some in the industry view as more restrictive wording, prompted Coinbase to inform lawmakers this week that it could not back the late-stage compromise language. The move marks a softer but still consequential reversal from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong’s more forceful opposition in January, which previously stalled the bill’s markup. Industry Split Over CLARITY Act Draft Beyond Coinbase, industry responses to the new draft have been mixed. One major trade association told Crypto In America that the revised language represented a marked departure from what had been discussed with the White House, and described the text as more restrictive for the crypto sector. Related Reading: BlackRock Crypto Outlook: CEO Predicts $500M A Year In Revenue Within Next Five Years In contrast, another trade group leader characterized the provisions as largely in line with expectations, arguing they struck an acceptable balance by preserving rewards while preventing interest-like stablecoin offerings. “This is the best possible result,” that source said, noting the new draft seemed broader than an earlier proposal advanced by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks, and expressing confidence that “people will still get their rewards.” Coinbase’s stock, trading under the ticker name COIN, concluded Wednesday’s trading session at $181, down nearly 5% from its opening price above $190 per share. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Lawmakers signaled a major advance Wednesday toward passing the long-awaited CLARITY Act, the bill intended to create a clearer market-structure framework for cryptocurrencies in the United States. Tentative Stablecoin Deal Politico reported that key senators have reached a tentative agreement with the White House on language meant to bridge a central dispute between banks and crypto firms over stablecoin yields — a development that could unblock the legislation in the coming weeks. Related Reading: AI Model Ranks Bitcoin, XRP, And ETH For 2026: Expected Returns And Price Targets Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Angela Alsobrooks are the lead negotiators credited with forging the understanding alongside White House officials. Alsobrooks told reporters on Friday that she and Tillis “do have an agreement in principle,” adding that the deal represents substantial progress. “We’ve come a long way. And I think what it will do is to allow us to protect innovation, but also gives us the opportunity to prevent widespread deposit flight,” she said. Tillis, while optimistic, emphasized that the tentative pact is not final. He told interviewers he feels “like we’re in a good place,” but stressed he still plans to review the details with industry stakeholders before moving forward. CLARITY Act Markup In Mid‑ To Late‑April The timing for a Senate procedural move is also taking shape. Market expert MartyParty noted on X that Senator Cynthia Lummis has indicated the Senate Banking Committee plans to hold a markup in the second half of April, likely during the weeks beginning April 13 or April 20 after the Easter recess. Related Reading: BTQ Unveils First Bitcoin Upgrade Testnet Designed To Thwart Quantum Attacks A planned CLARITY Act markup would expose the draft to changes and possible political maneuvering, but it would also be a crucial step toward floor consideration. As of right now, it’s unclear what more details will emerge from the current talks in Washington, D.C. for complete confirmation of possible dates. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Momentum has picked up on Capitol Hill this week as lawmakers and industry leaders converged at the DC Blockchain Summit, where Senator Cynthia Lummis said she expects the long‑delayed Senate Banking Committee markup on the crypto market‑structure bill (CLARITY Act) to be scheduled for late April. Breakthrough On DeFi And Stablecoin Yield Senator Lummis told attendees she is confident the committee will approve the crypto market structure bill and that the full Senate could pass the legislation by the end of the year. “We’re gonna have this thing done come hell or high water by the end of the year.” She added that a Banking GOP markup is likely in the second half of April after the Easter recess. “We think we’ve got it,” she claimed at the event. Related Reading: This Week Could Be The Most Volatile For Bitcoin In 2026, Top Expert Warns Stablecoin yield has been one of the thorniest issues slowing talks; bank lobbyists have argued that such yield could effectively resemble deposit interest and threaten deposit accounts. Lummis said negotiators have drafted language to block crypto platforms from marketing or delivering rewards in ways that sound like traditional deposit yield or that scale with the amount of assets a user holds. “Anything that sounds like banking product terminology will not appear,” she said, noting she had not seen the most recent text but that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong had signaled willingness to compromise. Senators Fast‑Track Crypto Bill Lummis also said negotiators believe they have resolved outstanding questions around decentralized finance. “We think we’ve got the DeFi issue put to bed,” she said, reflecting industry and legislative efforts to clarify how peer‑to‑peer (P2P) and protocol‑level services should be regulated. The senator used social media to underscore the political moment, stating that there has “never been a more pro‑digital asset administration in United States history than @POTUS,” and urging colleagues to seize what she described as a unique opportunity to finalize crypto market‑structure reform. Related Reading: Citigroup Lowers 12-Month Bitcoin Price Forecast To $112,000, ETH To $3,175—Here’s The Reason Reporting from Crypto in America added further signs of progress. Journalist Eleanor Terrett relayed comments from Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, who told the summit he expected to have “the first proposal” on stablecoin yield by the end of the week. Chair Scott credited Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Thom Tillis, along with Patrick Witt, executive director of the White House Crypto Council, for helping advance negotiations between the two financial sectors. Importantly, Scott also said the committee is making headway on decentralized finance (DeFi), ethics, and quorum issues, and that some Democratic concerns are being addressed by proposing minority‑party representation at the SEC and CFTC — a concession aimed at broadening bipartisan support. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
No progress has been made recently on the delayed CLARITY Act, the crypto market structure bill, primarily due to opposition from the banking sector over stablecoin rewards. Despite this stalemate, White House Crypto Advisor Patrick Witt has been vocal in advocating for the bill’s passage. Witt Calls Out Banks For Undermining Crypto Progress In a social media post on Tuesday, Witt emphasized the importance of keeping the CLARITY Act a pro-innovation piece of legislation. He criticized efforts to co-opt the legislative process into an anti-competition framework, labeling such actions as “shameful.” Related Reading: Ripple Launches $750 Million Share Buyback, Boosting Valuation To $50 Billion His comments echo President Donald Trump’s recent support for the cryptocurrency industry, in which Trump alleged that banks are attempting to undermine both the overarching crypto framework and the GENIUS Act, signed last year. The President accused financial institutions, despite their record profits, of resisting policies that aim to create greater opportunities within the digital asset sector. However, on Wednesday, Witt intensified his criticism of the banking sector’s opposition to stablecoin rewards, stating: Arguably my favorite part of this rewards/yield debate has been when bankers say, ‘if we allow this, then we’ll see massive deposit flight.’ Crypto has already been offering rewards/yield on stablecoins FOR YEARS. Where is the deposit flight? Is it in the room with us right now? CLARITY Act In Jeopardy? The traditional banking sector contends that stablecoin products offering rewards could siphon deposits from traditional banking institutions, ultimately diminishing the funds available for local lending activities. In response, crypto executives have been defending the concept of consumer choice and the benefits of open competition. Some contend that restrictions on stablecoin rewards would disproportionately protect bank profit models while limiting individuals’ control over their finances. Related Reading: XRP Price Outlook: Analyst Foresees New All-Time Highs Above $40 In 2026 Witt has previously stated that a lack of compromise on the CLARITY Act equates to no restrictions on intermediaries providing stablecoin rewards. He added, “If you believe the banks’ argument about deposit flight, this would be catastrophic.”However, the CLARITY Act faces additional unresolved challenges. Some Democratic senators are pushing for stronger anti-money laundering (AML) safeguards, measures addressing alleged risks associated with decentralized finance (DeFi), and tighter restrictions on personal crypto holdings for senior government officials. While the Senate Agriculture Committee has approved its section of the bill, ongoing discussions within the Senate Banking Committee aim to address these remaining issues. As of now, it remains uncertain when a compromise will be reached, leaving the future of the CLARITY Act hanging in the balance. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com