Coinbase CPO: Clarity Act Is ‘Very Close to Getting’ Passed — What It Means for Crypto
Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad says the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act is “very close” to clearing the Senate, predicting a committee markup as early as April 2026 and a floor vote in May. The statement marks the most concrete legislative timeline yet from one of the crypto industry’s most prominent policy voices.
Coinbase’s Top Policy Official Signals Clarity Act Is Near the Finish Line
Shirzad made the remarks during an appearance on Fox Business on April 16, 2026. The Clarity Act, formally known as the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (H.R. 3633), would establish a regulatory framework splitting jurisdiction over digital assets between the SEC and the CFTC.
“We are hopeful that Chairman Scott is able to schedule a markup as early as this month. Then we’ll be able to get to the floor in May and get the President and Congress another big bipartisan win.”
— Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase Chief Policy Officer, via Disruption Banking
Shirzad’s comments followed an earlier push by Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal, who said on Fox Business on April 2 that the company was “very close to a deal” on the bill’s stablecoin yield provisions and predicted progress “within 48 hours.” That deadline passed without a formal announcement.
What the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act Would Actually Change
The bill passed the U.S. House on July 17, 2025 with a bipartisan 294-134 vote. Its core purpose is to grant the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over digital commodities, including Bitcoin BTC +0.00% and most crypto spot markets, while narrowing the SEC’s enforcement authority over tokens tied to sufficiently decentralized networks.
For exchanges like Coinbase, passage would replace years of regulation-by-enforcement with clear registration requirements for digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers. The legal certainty would open the door to product expansion that has been blocked by jurisdictional ambiguity.
The central obstacle in the Senate has been stablecoin yield. U.S. banks, led by the American Bankers Association, oppose allowing crypto platforms to offer yield on idle stablecoin balances, fearing deposit outflows. For Coinbase, the stakes are significant: the company reported $1.35 billion in stablecoin revenue in 2025.
Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) negotiated compromise draft text on the yield provisions in late March 2026, reportedly reaching an “agreement in principle” with the White House.
Where the Clarity Act Stands in Congress and What to Watch Next
Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott’s markup scheduling is the key pending action. Scott delayed a planned markup in January 2026 amid the stablecoin yield dispute, and as of mid-April 2026, no official confirmation of a rescheduled markup has appeared on the committee calendar.
President Trump has publicly pressured banks on the issue, stating: “The Banks should not be trying to undercut The Genius Act, or hold The Clarity Act hostage.”
Peter Van Valkenburgh, research director at crypto advocacy group Coin Center, framed the stakes in institutional terms.
“The point of passing CLARITY is not to trust this administration. It is to bind the next one.”
— Peter Van Valkenburgh, Coin Center Research Director
Prediction markets reflect cautious optimism. Polymarket gives the Clarity Act approximately 65-68% probability of being signed into law by the end of 2026.
The next concrete milestone is whether Chairman Scott schedules the Senate Banking Committee markup. If the Tillis-Alsobrooks compromise holds, Shirzad’s May floor vote timeline remains plausible, though the bill must still survive amendment votes and reconciliation with the House version before reaching the president’s desk.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
