Americans are sending Washington a clear message: The United States must lead the future of digital finance, not be left behind while other countries write the rules. A new national HarrisX poll of registered voters found that 70% say the United States should have already passed cryptocurrency legislation, 62% say it is important for the United States to set global rules for digital finance, and 60% prefer clear federal legislation over case-by-case enforcement.
That makes the Senate Banking Committee’s decision to pass the Clarity Act a critical next step in providing the United States with a viable framework for digital asset markets.
For years, Washington treated digital assets as a moving target. Technology evolved rapidly, the market was volatile and authorities were still analyzing the risks and opportunities. That is no longer the case. Lawmakers, regulators and staff have spent years studying these markets, engaging stakeholders and wrestling with difficult questions about consumer protection, market integrity, custody, trading and disclosure.
The industry has also changed. A sector that once spoke with scattered and often contradictory voices has become more disciplined in its interaction with policymakers. This is important because lasting legislation emerges from sustained commitment, practical proposals and a willingness to work through trade-offs.
The House made this abundantly clear when it passed the CLARITY Act with strong bipartisan support. That vote did not resolve all outstanding issues, but it established something important: the structure of the digital asset market belongs squarely on the congressional agenda. The Senate now has the opportunity to build on that foundation.
He is doing so with a stronger political foundation than even a year ago. The SEC and CFTC have taken steps to improve coordination and clarify how existing law applies to parts of the market. These efforts are important, but they also underscore the limits of agency action. Only Congress can provide lasting rules on regulatory limits, registration requirements, market oversight, and treatment of digital assets that do not fit neatly into older frameworks.
Meanwhile, the market has continued to advance. Following the signing of the GENIUS Act, stablecoins have grown rapidly and are increasingly connected to mainstream payments infrastructure. Tokenization is moving from concept to institutional experimentation. Major financial firms are testing blockchain-based systems for settlement and other market functions. Public blockchain networks are increasingly part of that activity.
Part of that development is occurring in networks like Solana. PayPal extended PYUSD to Solana to support faster, lower-cost payments use cases. Visa has included Solana in its stablecoin settlement work. And SoFi, which launched SoFiUSD in December, has said parts of its broader digital asset banking platform are expected to leverage Solana along with other networks. These examples show how digital asset markets are increasingly connected to real financial activity.
It’s clear: digital assets are the next generation of financial infrastructure.
Congress should legislate taking that reality into account. A market structure bill has to do difficult and important work. It has to draw viable lines between regulators. It has to set clear rules for market participants while ensuring strong consumer protections. And you have to take into account the fact that blockchain networks and digital asset markets do not clearly correspond to the categories created for previous generations of financial products.
This is precisely why the profit margin is important. It requires legislators to interact in public with actual legislative text. Members debate content, offer amendments, narrow down disagreements, and test whether a proposal is ready to move forward. In such consequential legislation, that process is where serious policymaking occurs.
For digital asset legislation to last, it must be bipartisan. A framework drafted along partisan lines will be fragile from the start. The rules that shape markets last when both parties help write them. The good news is that more lawmakers from both parties now understand what is at stake. They understand the need to protect consumers, the importance of market integrity and the cost of leaving a growing sector trapped in legal uncertainty.
The United States has deep capital markets, strong institutions, world-class entrepreneurs, and a long history of leadership in financial innovation. It should also bring those strengths to digital assets. Clear rules will protect consumers, strengthen markets, and give responsible builders the confidence to operate and invest in the United States.
Digital asset markets will continue to grow. Capital will move. Infrastructure will be built. The question is whether the United States will shape that future with clear rules, credible oversight, and the confidence to lead.
The Senate can help answer that question now by moving this legislation forward and closer to the President’s desk. It is essential that this be so.
