The CLARITY Act breakthrough: Why JPMorgan says the U.S. crypto rulebook is ‘close to completion’
Analysts at the bank say negotiations for the CLARITY Act are reaching a final breakthrough as lawmakers resolve long-standing disputes over stablecoin rewards and agency oversight.
By Helene Braun|Edited by Jamie Crawley Apr 16, 2026, 8:32 a.m. Make preferred on
What to know:
- Lawmakers and regulators in Washington are nearing agreement on the long-debated CLARITY Act, with only a few unresolved issues remaining, according to a JPMorgan report.
- The bill would define how digital assets, including stablecoins and decentralized finance platforms, are regulated and how oversight is divided between the SEC and CFTC.
- While key questions remain over stablecoin rewards and DeFi oversight, bipartisan compromise appears to be emerging, though election-year timing could still delay passage and reshape legislative priorities.
Momentum is building in Washington for the long-awaited CLARITY Act, with JPMorgan (JPM) pointing to signs that negotiations may be nearing a breakthrough.
JPMorgan said discussions among lawmakers and regulators suggest the legislation is close to completion, with only a small number of issues still unresolved in a Wednesday report.
One senior policy official noted that the list of contentious items has narrowed from roughly a dozen to just “2–3 issues,” while debate around stablecoin rewards is now “in a good place.”
The CLARITY Act is designed to define how digital assets are regulated in the U.S., including how oversight is divided between agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). It also addresses how stablecoins and decentralized finance platforms should be treated under existing financial rules.
Lawmakers involved in the discussions struck an optimistic tone. A Senate staffer familiar with the process said the draft legislation is “very close,” with remaining questions around areas like DeFi oversight and token classification potentially resolved in the near term, according to the report.
One of the most closely watched debates centers on whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield-like rewards to users. The issue has drawn pushback from banks, which argue such features could replicate deposit-taking without the same regulatory safeguards.
The latest proposals could find support from both crypto firms and traditional financial institutions, according to JPMorgan.
Still, the path forward is not without risk. The final legislative text has yet to be released and no formal vote has been scheduled. Timing is also a factor, with some policy experts warning that delays could push the bill into a more uncertain political environment.
JPMorgan noted that the outlook for the 2026 midterm elections remains mixed, with expectations that Democrats could regain control of the House of Representatives. If that scenario plays out, crypto legislation could lose priority, potentially slowing further progress.
For now, the direction of travel appears clear. As one policy advisor put it, “there is no such thing as a perfect bill,” underscoring willingness among stakeholders to compromise in order to establish a workable framework.
If passed, the CLARITY Act would mark a major step toward integrating digital assets into the U.S. financial system, providing rules that industry participants have sought for years.
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