CLARITY or not, crypto isn’t going back in the bottle: Bitwise
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan says missing the Aug. 5 deadline for the CLARITY Act would leave it stalled, but not kill it. He argues crypto has gained enough momentum that Washington cannot “put it back in the bottle,” and the industry would keep advancing even without immediate legislation. He sees possible paths for the bill later in September, in a December lame-duck session, or through a year-end omnibus package. If the bill fails, the market would rely on the SEC-CFTC’s March interpretation treating Bitcoin and similar assets as digital commodities, plus any SEC rules under Chair Paul Atkins. But those regulatory fixes are less durable than law and could be reversed or challenged. Market odds for passage this year have fallen sharply, and analysts say the bill still lacks a credible path to 60 Senate votes. Even so, Hougan says crypto will remain a lasting force in finance regardless of this week’s outcome.
