clarity

Benchmark has lowered its second-quarter performance expectations for Coinbase ahead of the earnings report next week, citing weak trading activity in the cryptocurrency market, but still maintains a "Buy" rating and a target price of $270. Based on Coinbase's stock price of about $172 on Wednesday, this target price corresponds to an upside potential of approximately 57%.Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer has revised Coinbase's second-quarter revenue expectation from $1.51 billion to $1.38 billion and has lowered the full-year revenue expectation for 2026 from $6.33 billion to $6 billion. The trading volume on centralized exchanges in the second quarter has decreased by about 28%, and the total market capitalization of the cryptocurrency market has dropped by about 13%. The firm expects Coinbase's trading revenue to decline by more than 5%.However, the market showed initial signs of stabilization in June, with spot trading volume exceeding $1 trillion for the first time since March, which may somewhat alleviate the weak performance in the second quarter.Benchmark believes that if the CLARITY Act is ultimately passed, it could become a more significant catalyst for the stock price than quarterly performance, with Coinbase potentially being one of the main beneficiaries of the act. Trump has previously agreed to the relevant ethical provisions, removing a key obstacle to the advancement of the bill.

Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett posted on the X platform that, according to an industry insider invited to the conference call, stakeholders in the crypto industry will hold a conference call later this morning local time with Republican leadership to understand the latest developments on the text of the CLARITY Act.

According to Cointelegraph, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that lawmakers have entered the "final sprint phase" for the Clarity Act, urging Congress to pass the bill before the recess.

According to Bitcoin.com, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis stated that the CLARITY Act will change the way customer crypto assets are handled when digital asset platforms enter bankruptcy proceedings; customer assets should continue to belong to the customers, rather than being included in the company's bankruptcy estate.The bill requires regulated digital asset intermediaries to treat customer cash and digital assets as customer property and to segregate them from company property. The bill also generally prohibits brokers, dealers, and exchanges from using customer assets for their own or others' benefit without authorization.The bankruptcies of Celsius and Voyager sparked disputes over the ownership of customer deposits. In January 2023, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn ruled that the cryptocurrency deposited in Celsius Earn accounts became company property under the terms of use, involving approximately 600,000 Earn accounts and about $4.2 billion in assets.Lummis stated that the CLARITY Act also aims to provide regulatory certainty for developers, enhance investor protection, and improve market integrity. The bill will clarify the responsibilities of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in different areas of the crypto market, and it has already passed the House of Representatives but has not yet passed the Senate.

Mike Selig, Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated that one year after the "GENIUS Act" became law, the United States has become the "global cryptocurrency capital" and thanked U.S. President and Senator Bill Hagerty for their leadership in achieving this goal.

U.S. Congressman Bryan Steil expressed optimism on Fox News that the CLARITY Act is expected to pass in the Senate next week, emphasizing that the U.S. needs to establish a regulatory gold standard in the digital asset space. Bryan Steil currently serves as the Chairman of the House Administration Committee and also chairs the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion within the Financial Services Committee.

The Clarity Act will establish clear federal rules for centralized platforms, brokers, dealers, and custodians used by consumers to buy, sell, and hold digital assets, covering registration, regulation, disclosure, custody, asset segregation, market integrity, conflicts of interest, fraud prevention, and bankruptcy matters.Since the collapse of FTX nearly four years ago, many consumers have been unable to confirm the location of their assets, whether their assets are separated from platform funds, and how their assets will be handled in the event of the company's failure. Regulatory agencies, bankruptcy courts, and law enforcement agencies have since addressed these issues.

Ripple's Co-Head of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs, Lauren Belive, stated that opposing the CLARITY Act is not against the crypto industry, but rather against consumers, as it will leave crypto holders exposed to bad actors exploiting regulatory arbitrage. Belive noted that the U.S. digital asset market already exists, but federal rules to protect consumers have not kept pace. She pointed out that the regulatory gap that led to the FTX collapse and customer fund losses still exists.Belive stated that the CLARITY Act would grant the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) clear joint jurisdiction over the digital asset market and require tokens to undergo regulatory oversight before entering the market. Ripple's Chief Legal Officer and President of the National Cryptocurrency Association, Stuart Alderoty, stated that opposing the CLARITY Act would allow the current unregulated status to continue, which would be exploited by bad actors.

According to Cryptonomist, banking groups such as the American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America are urging the Senate to further tighten the provisions related to stablecoin yields in the CLARITY Act. Previously, the Senate Banking Committee passed the bill on May 14, 2026, with a vote of 15 to 9, incorporating some amendments pushed by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks. However, the banking sector believes that the existing text still does not completely close the incentive space for "class yields" related to stablecoins.The Independent Community Bankers of America previously estimated that if the bill does not further strengthen yield restrictions, stablecoins could lead to a loss of approximately $1.3 trillion in deposits from the banking system and reduce the lending capacity of community banks by about $850 billion, thereby affecting credit access for small businesses, agriculture, and families in underdeveloped areas.

U.S. President Trump stated that the U.S. Senate should pass the Clarity Act to support Senator Lindsey Graham. He mentioned that China and other countries are trying to gain dominance in this important financial sector as well as in the field of artificial intelligence, and he urged the U.S. not to lose its competitive edge in these two areas.

Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett posted on the X platform that Patrick Witt, the Executive Director of the White House Cryptocurrency Council, stated that this week will be a "critical week" in the advancement of the U.S. CLARITY Act. As the crypto industry prepares to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the GENIUS Act officially becoming law, the construction of the U.S. digital asset regulatory framework has once again become a focal point for the market.Patrick Witt mentioned that the current U.S. crypto policy is at an important stage, and the advancement of the CLARITY Act will have significant implications for the market structure of digital assets, the division of regulatory responsibilities, and the future development direction of the industry.Previously, the CLARITY Act was regarded as one of the important legislations for establishing comprehensive regulatory rules for the U.S. crypto market, aiming to clarify the classification of digital assets, the authority of regulatory agencies, and the compliance requirements for market participants.Market participants believe that if the bill makes substantial progress, it could further enhance regulatory certainty for the U.S. crypto industry and impact the future strategies of exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and blockchain companies.

According to Bitcoin.com, Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad responded on X to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's criticism of the CLARITY Act, stating that the bill will not undermine national security but rather bring digital asset platforms under stronger regulation. Elizabeth Warren previously stated that the current draft of the CLARITY Act could provide opportunities to evade sanctions.Faryar Shirzad stated that the bill will require crypto platforms to comply with stricter national security standards and allow platforms to freeze suspicious transactions at the request of law enforcement.U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis previously stated that the CLARITY Act includes 16 illegal financial protection measures and warned that the bill may be the last major opportunity for Congress to pass comprehensive digital asset rules before 2030.

According to The Hill, the Clarity Act, which provides a regulatory framework for the digital asset industry, is facing a critical legislative window. Bipartisan negotiations in the U.S. have yet to reach an agreement on key issues such as government officials' ethical rules and illicit finance.If the bill fails to advance before the August recess, there will be almost no time window before the midterm elections, which could cause the legislative process to return to square one.Currently, the Republican leadership aims to push for consideration during the week of July 20, but at least 7 Democratic senators' support is needed for it to pass.

Mike Selig, Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated on the X platform that innovators and market participants in the cryptocurrency industry need clear regulatory expectations, and the CLARITY Act will establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. The future development of the U.S. cryptocurrency market requires a certain regulatory environment, and the CLARITY Act can provide "forward-looking" regulatory rules for digital assets. If the U.S. wishes to maintain its position as a global cryptocurrency hub, this bill is "legislation that must be passed."The CLARITY Act aims to further clarify the division of regulatory responsibilities in the digital asset market and establish a systematic framework for cryptocurrency asset trading, market structure, and regulatory authority. Supporters believe that the bill helps reduce regulatory uncertainty and promotes the development of businesses and capital in the U.S. market. Mike Selig has previously emphasized the need for clear and enforceable regulatory rules to support digital asset innovation while ensuring market safety and investor protection. This statement further reflects the trend of U.S. regulatory agencies pushing for clearer rules in the cryptocurrency industry.

Sources familiar with the work indicate that lawmakers may release a new version of the cryptocurrency Clarity Act as early as next week. The new version will integrate the work of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, but there are still unresolved issues, including one of the key demands from Senate Democrats regarding ethical concerns.Democrats still need to approve the new draft, which requires 60 votes to advance in the Senate.

Michael Selig, chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated that the cryptocurrency market structure bill, the Clarity Act, "is very close to being finalized," and urged Congress to complete its passage before the August recess.

According to The Block, U.S. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has written to the bipartisan leaders of the Senate, urging them to retain Section 604 of the Clarity Act, the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. This provision provides a safe harbor for non-custodial developers, clarifying that they do not fall under the category of money transmitters, and it has received widespread support from the crypto industry, which believes it offers legal certainty for software developers and prevents the outflow of innovation.However, law enforcement agencies and Catholic leaders warn that this provision could weaken regulatory capabilities in combating human trafficking and hinder investigations. Wyden countered in his letter that the provision aligns the policies of the DOJ and FinCEN, ensuring that resources are focused on illegal money transmission activities, and stipulates that non-custodial developers are not protected if they are found to be transferring or using funds from illegal activities. This controversy is one of the main unresolved issues in advancing the Clarity Act, with another being the ethics provision. The time window before the Senate recess in August is narrowing.

According to CoinDesk, the Clarity Act failed to be signed into law on July 4 as White House advisor Patrick Witt had hoped, and the time window for passing it through Congress before the midterm elections is narrowing.Three individuals familiar with the process stated that they remain optimistic about the bill passing this year, as relevant staff are still coordinating between the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Banking Committee versions. The Senate may only need a few days for public debate and voting, but if the bill fails to pass before the midterm elections, the post-election outlook remains uncertain. The next key date is August 7, 2026, which is the last session day before the Senate's summer recess and the campaign season.