The long-awaited US CLARITY Act may be moving more slowly than the crypto industry would like, but insiders say the momentum is still firmly intact. Coinbase’s head of institutional strategy, John D’Agostino, recently pushed back on fears of stagnation, emphasizing that the pace of the bill reflects its importance. Intended as a fundamental framework for market structure, CLARITY aims to define how digital assets are regulated in the United States, making it far more complex than previous crypto legislation.
Why the bill is taking longer than expected
D’Agostino acknowledged growing impatience within the industry, but argued that rushing a bill of this magnitude would do more harm than good. Unlike crypto-targeted laws, CLARITY aims to establish clear boundaries between regulators, asset classes and platforms. This level of coordination, he explained, naturally requires more discussion and refinement. From Coinbase’s perspective, lawmakers are laying the foundation for long-term growth rather than seeking quick political victories.
Global regulation raises the stakes
Pressure on U.S. lawmakers also comes from abroad. Countries across Europe are accelerating crypto regulation, with countries like Spain already implementing rules aligned with the EU’s MiCA framework. D’Agostino warned that the United States risks falling behind if it does not act decisively. Much like artificial intelligence, blockchain is considered a transformational technology, and regulatory clarity is increasingly seen as a competitive necessity rather than a constraint.
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Institutions envisage a strong rebound beyond 2025
Although regulation remains a priority, the market outlook is becoming increasingly optimistic. According to analysts at Bull Theory, traditional assets significantly outperformed cryptocurrencies in 2025. Silver surged about 160%, while gold climbed about 66%. Bitcoin, on the other hand, ended the year down about 5%, despite strong ETF inflows, consistent institutional buying, and continued accumulation by large corporations.
Historically, periods where crypto lags despite ample liquidity tend to precede sharp catch-up rebounds. This trend shapes institutional expectations for 2026.
High price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum
Large financial institutions are already making bold bets. Standard Chartered predicts Bitcoin will reach $150,000 by the end of 2026, while JPMorgan is even more aggressive with a target of $170,000. Citi’s base case sits near $143,000, with a bull case extending to $189,000. ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood remains the most bullish, describing a long-term view in which Bitcoin could eventually reach $500,000 if institutional adoption accelerates.
Ethereum is also attracting attention. Tom Lee of Fundstrat expects ETH to trade between $7,000 and $9,000 by early 2026, largely driven by the tokenization of real-world assets.
With a crucial Senate session scheduled for January 15, many see 2026 as a turning point. If CLARITY progresses as expected, regulatory certainty could align with growing institutional confidence, paving the way for crypto’s next major growth cycle.
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FAQs
The CLARITY Act is a proposed US law to clearly define how digital assets, platforms and regulators are classified and monitored nationally.
Because it establishes a comprehensive framework for the crypto market, lawmakers are carefully debating the details to avoid loopholes and ensure long-term regulatory stability.
Clear rules could strengthen institutional trust, reduce regulatory risk and support long-term growth in the Bitcoin, Ethereum and crypto markets.
Despite a delay in 2025, strong liquidity, demand for ETFs, and past market cycles suggest that crypto often recovers strongly after periods of underperformance.
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