Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse used his Consensus 2026 stage appearance in Miami to signal a shift in Washington: the Clarity Act, he said, is finally gaining “genuine ground.” Calling the past week a “big positive shift,” Garlinghouse pointed to growing Senate support as evidence the bill is moving forward. The Clarity Act—designed to create clearer federal rules for digital assets—has attracted backing from major crypto industry players. Coinbase and Circle have publicly urged the Senate Banking Committee to advance the bill after senators Tommy Tillis and Chris Van Hollen (note: the article referenced Senator Alsobrooks) brokered a compromise on stablecoin yields. That deal, however, has not been universally welcomed: banking trade groups argue the yield provisions could introduce systemic risk to traditional financial institutions. Regulatory clarity has been the centrepiece of Ripple’s public strategy for years, and Garlinghouse repeatedly cited a Ripple survey published earlier this year showing 72% of institutional respondents consider digital assets essential to their operations. He used that statistic to press the case that federal legislation is needed to give institutions a predictable legal framework. Garlinghouse’s comments carry extra weight because of Ripple’s high-profile legal battle with the SEC, which has made him one of the most closely watched executives when it comes to U.S. crypto policy. His appearance at Consensus—this year attended by more than 20,000 people and featuring SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC Chair Brian Selig—underscored the heightened regulatory attention on the industry. The coming weeks will be decisive. If the Senate’s momentum converts into a formal committee markup, Garlinghouse’s optimism could be validated; if not, the clash between industry supporters and banking associations over the yield provisions may stall progress. Either way, Consensus 2026 served as a reminder that U.S. digital-asset policy is entering one of its most consequential phases since the FTX fallout prompted regulatory urgency in late 2022. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news