CLARITY Act may stall, but crypto can grow: Bitwise

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan said on Aug. 4 that the crypto industry would continue expanding even if the U.S. Senate fails to advance the CLARITY Act before its August recess. Summary No CLARITY Act cloture motion appeared on Tuesday’s Senate schedule, narrowing this week’s remaining window. Bitwise’s Matt Hougan says SEC rulemaking could sustain crypto growth if Congress delays market structure. The bill cleared Senate Banking 15 to 9 but still needs sixty votes for cloture. Democratic senators seek ethics, consumer protection, illicit finance, conflict, and market integrity provisions before passage. Polymarket traders place 2026 enactment odds at 23%, reflecting doubts before the Senate recess begins. In a new investor memo, Hougan said crypto “will be fine” without immediate congressional action. He argued that Securities and Exchange Commission rulemaking could provide an alternative path while traditional financial companies continue adopting digital assets. His assessment is a forward looking industry view, not a confirmed regulatory outcome. The bill’s immediate prospects remain uncertain. The Senate’s Aug. 4 floor schedule did not include H.R. 3633, and th...